Jiquipilas, Chiapas: CJNG And Sinaloa Cartel Hitmen Clash; Here's How They Confronted Each Other

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

There was a confrontation between groups of the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel, who dispute the plaza of Jiquipilas and Cintalapa, for being the connection to the coast towards Oaxaca.

Since Sunday afternoon, in the municipality of Jiquipilas, Chiapas, organized crime groups maintain a confrontation that lasted until noon on Monday, which caused panic in the population. Authorities suspended classes on Monday. Apparently the confrontation is between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel.

According to witnesses, armed men aboard about 30 pickup trucks have been in confrontation since four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Elements of the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) besieged the area.

Workers at the municipal hospital said that uniformed men were wounded.

The first confrontation originated at kilometer 80 of the Ocozocoautla-Arriaga highway, where the armed men allegedly clashed with another antagonistic group.

The exchange of gunfire went on for more than 30 minutes, and army troops were mobilized to the site, closing the passage of vehicles on one of the main highways that connect to the capital Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

The confrontation extended to the vicinity of the communities of Vicente Guerrero and Andres Quintana Roo, about seven kilometers from the initial point, but continued to the Ocozocoautla-Cintalapa highway, in the stretch of the Las Flores Bridge and a crossroads known as La J, in the municipality of Jiquipilas.

Elements of the National Guard arrived in the area and deployed a search operation for those involved in the shooting. Video surveillance cameras revealed the moment when the armed men arrived on the highway and began shooting at their opponents.

STATE OF SIEGE

The municipality of Jiquipilas is in a state of complete panic, residents are warned not to leave their homes because armed civilians have arrived in the municipality to take over the toll booths, where the "J" roundabout is located.

It was around 21:30 hours on Sunday when it was reported that armed subjects passed the toll booth on the highway that connects Ocozocoautla with Arriaga, minutes later citizens began to call 911 to report gunshots at various points in this city.

It appears to be a confrontation between groups of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, who are disputing the plaza of Jiquipilas and Cintalapa, for being the connection to the coast towards Oaxaca and for being a strategic point with the El Amate prison, according to police sources.

Around 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, it was learned that organized crime groups had detained members of the Municipal Police, who were taken away in an unknown direction.

So far it is not known if there are casualties from these shootings. It is presumed that there are wounded soldiers, although no authorities, neither state nor federal, have reported on the matter.

La Silla Rota