Guachochi, Chihuahua: Death of "El Chapo Calin" in Guachochi Clash Reported

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

Melquiades Diaz Meza, alias "El Chapo Calin". His name is often abbreviated as Melquiades D. M. by investigators

According to reports from local residents, criminal leader Melquiades Díaz Meza, alias "El Chapo Calín" could be among the burned victims.

Another armed confrontation in Guachochi on Wednesday afternoon left six people dead. According to local residents, among the victims may be the criminal leader Melquiades Díaz Meza, alias "El Chapo Calín" or "El 13", a priority target for the authorities and who, together with Reyes C.G., is believed to be responsible for the latest criminal acts that have occurred in the area.

This afternoon, authorities from the Guachochi Inter-institutional Operations Base were alerted to an armed confrontation in the municipality that left at least six people dead, including some of them burned.

According to local residents, among the victims could be Melquiades Díaz Meza, alias "El Chapo Calín" or "El 13", a criminal leader in the area who in recent months had become a priority target for the authorities.

Although the authorities have confirmed the incident, they have not confirmed whether "Chapo Calin" is among the victims, since at least among the people who died there is no one with his characteristics, however, he could be among the burned victims.

Melquiades Díaz Meza, alias "El Chapo Calín" or "El 13", is one of the targets considered to be one of the main generators of violence in the southern region of the state, especially in the area of Guachochi.

Authorities reported that in August 2021 he was arrested by federal authorities. However, he was released for unknown reasons less than a year after his capture.

He is currently considered to be one of the alleged criminal leaders who controls illegal logging and timber trafficking in the southern region, as well as drug and arms trafficking and ordering attacks against opposing groups and authorities.

El Sol de Parral was able to confirm that Melquiades Díaz Meza, alias "El Chapo Calín" or "El 13", originally from Batopilas and born on April 14, 1974, is a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel's criminal cell in Guachochi, working under the command of the Salgueiro Nevárez family.

A rift between compadres Melquiades Díaz Mesa alias "El Chapo Calin" and/or "El 13" and Reyes C.G. "El Reyes" led to constant confrontations in the municipality of Guachochi and some communities, resulting in a high number of deaths and arrests.

The last criminal incident in the area occurred on June 5 in the community of Santa Anita when an armed confrontation left one person dead, who was decapitated. Also the church with more than 700 gunshots in the facade and a grenade, a magazine for an AR-15 rifle were found inside the church.

El Heraldo de Chihuahua. Borderland Beat Archives