SUV With Anti-Drone Armor Seized After Shootout in Costa Rica Town of Culiacan, Sinaloa

 "Enojon" and "Char" for Borderland Beat 

Photograph By Link Sinaloa TV (A modified white Chevrolet Suburban) 

During a press conference Leoncio Pedro García Alatorre, the Subsecretary of Security of Sinaloa, would confirm reports of a gunfight between unidentified armed groups on December 26th in the Costa Rica town of Culiacán, Sinaloa. It was stated that the C4I (Center for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), had initially received reports of the incident taking place in the El Centro community during the early morning hours and members of the Mexican Military, State and Municipal Police would respond. They would discover a body with gunshot wounds in front of a Banorte Bank Branch and an abandoned yellow School Bus (Coordinates: 24.5906644, -107.3902564), but did not disclose any further details. 

Video By Cárdenas Noticias Sinaloa (Scene where the confrontation took place)

Authorities would also seize a white Chevrolet Suburban that was abandoned near the entrance of Costa Rica that had been damaged by gunfire and with a tire deflated. Although we are unable to confirm if the vehicle was used during the above-mentioned shooting. Images of the vehicle would show a metal pole supporting a large metal plate over a cut out in the vehicle’s roof acting as a form of protection from potential drone attacks. 

Photograph By Link Sinaloa TV (Modification with the intended purpose of protecting passengers during a drone attack)

Similar modifications had been implemented by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) during an attack against Military personnel on November 19th, 2023, in Teocaltiche, Jalisco. Footage of the attack would show a white truck equipped with a metal landscaping body that had been modified with gunports. It also had a metal barrier suspended over the truck cab using two metal supports in an apparent effort to protect the driver and passengers during confrontations. 

Video By Blog del Narco Mexico (Dashcam footage of attack against Military personnel)

Since the first use of drones within the narco-conflict in October 2017 groups and security forces alike have implemented countermeasures to hinder aerial attacks such as the use of anti-drone rifles and the aforementioned armor modifications to vehicles which are often produced by criminal organizations termed ‘Blindadas’ or ‘Monstruos’. 

Sources: Hyperlinked in Text

Categories: cartel de sinaloa, Char, CJNG, culiacan, Drone, Enojon, gunfight, Jalisco, Jalisco Cartel New Generation, military, Monstruo, police, shootout, sinaloa