Mayoral Candidate Murdered by Gunman Near Guadalajara, Jalisco

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Jaime Vera Alaniz (aged 62), a mayoral pre-candidate for Mascota, Jalisco, was fatally shot outside a laundry shop in Zapopan, part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailant escaped on foot.

Emergency responders confirmed Vera's death at the scene, noting that he had sustained three gunshot wounds to his arm, abdomen, and skull.

Vera Alaniz was running for the position of mayor in the municipality of Mascota, representing the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM).

According to numerous social media posts from residents of Mascota, Vera Alaniz was actively involved in charity work, providing support to communities facing economic challenges. Additionally, he contributed by delivering garbage bins to localities in need of proper waste disposal infrastructure.

He had recently signed up as a candidate for mayor of Mascota. He said his goal was to "restore the charm of the town".

The electoral campaigns for Jalisco's municipalities are set to commence on March 31 and conclude on May 29. On December 5, 2023, Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez announced the implementation of a security protocol for the electoral process, coordinated by the State Security Board.

Investigators have yet to release information regarding the suspected perpetrators or the motive behind the murder. It remains unclear whether the candidate had received threats from a criminal organization or an individual. 

The fact that Vera Alaniz was murdered in Zapopan, located nearly 200 km (124 mi) from Mascota municipality, indicates that the assailants meticulously planned and were aware of the candidate's travel arrangements.

CJNG's Influence in Mascota, Jalisco

The Mascota area and its surroundings are regarded as a strategic location for the operations of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho.

This region is known to house various clandestine laboratories engaged in the production of fentanyl.

In addition to the laboratories, the Mascota area also features clandestine landing strips utilized by cartel members to receive small planes from southern Mexico and dispatch shipments to other parts of Mexico. These runways are meticulously concealed with large flower pots, which are removed at night to facilitate swift and efficient landings.

Sources: Milenio; Telediario; El Occidental

Background sources: Roberti News