Acultzingo, Veracruz: Suspected Hit Men And Police Officers Clashed, 4 Dead

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

Governor Cuitláhuac García blamed the attack on the criminal gang led by "El Bukanas"

A confrontation between Veracruz state police and suspected hit men left four civilians killed, who would be part of the criminal gang led by a subject identified as El Bukanas, according to statements by the entity's governor, Cuitláhuac García.

During the early hours of this Tuesday, April 5, elements of the State Police of Veracruz were carrying out preventive work on the federal highway Orizaba-Tehuacán, near the town known as El Mezquite, where they noticed the presence of a beige vehicle with “suspicious” people inside.

The subjects traveling in the Ford Explorer with Mexico State license plates refused to stop despite the fact that uniformed men repeatedly signaled for them to stop their car, they started a high-speed chase on the highway.

After minutes of pursuit, the uniformed and suspected hit men exchanged gunfire. While civilians tried to leave the road near the town of El Potrero. The confrontation resulted in the death of four men, while one more, identified as Gonzalo “N”, was wounded by bullets. He was transferred to a hospital in the municipality of Río Blanco as a detainee.

Authorities seized long and short firearms

The authorities secured three handguns and one long gun, in addition to the vehicle in which the subjects were traveling; the confiscated items was placed at the disposal of the Regional Prosecutor of Justice of the 15th district of Veracruz to integrate the investigation folder for the case.

Elements of the National Guard and the Ministerial Police implemented a security device in place to secure the area and initiate the necessary steps to establish the facts.

Initial reports of the facts indicated that the subjects belonged to a party of self-defence groups originating in the area. Later the rumor spread that the victims were part of a criminal organization dedicated to fuel theft. 

Later, the governor of the state, Cuitláhuac García, testified about what happened to the local media, saying that the subjects killed could be part of a cell belonging to a criminal group.

“They are not self-defense groups, following a call to 911 about armed persons authorities came to the area and the elements were attacked. What was done immediately was to report the fact, the Prosecutor's Office will conduct the investigation. There was no loss of elements, only those who attacked.

The Veracruz prosecutor’s office is investigating the crime

Just the same way, he regretted the loss of human life and said that the Veracruz Prosecutor's Office is already investigating the incident; in addition to ensuring that he is suspected of belonging to the criminal gang led by Roberto de los Santos de Jesús, known as El Bukanas.

The criminal leader is reported to be one of the principal fuel thieves in the state, local authorities are offering a reward of five million pesos for information leading to his capture.

De los Santos was a member of the State Police and is presumed to have used his influence as an officer to steal fuel on the borders of Veracruz and Puebla. In 2014, he was linked to Los Zetas, as state authorities found a ranch where hit men were training in the town of Acultzingo.

News recently surfaced that El Bukanas formed an alliance with CJNG hit men to join forces. And continue their criminal activities in the states of Veracruz and Puebla, which he commands in the company of his brother Saul de los Santos de Jesús, El Fossil.

Infobae