Clashes reported Between Armed Criminal Groups in the Choix mountain range; residents report looting and abuse By Criminal Groups And Navy Special Forces Of Mexico. Violence In Northern Mountain Range Of Sinaloa Is Looming

"Char" for Borderland Beat 

Video Published by LUZ NOTICIAS 

APRIL 9, 2025

VIDEO TRANSLATION 

In the north of the state, there was also a strong confrontation in the mountains of Choix, even with some complaints from residents who reported looting and abuses there in the mountainous region of northern Ernesto. 

That's Samuel. I'll also tell you, further north, that another strong confrontation was reported yesterday between a group of armed civilians and members of the Navy. This was in the community of Ycorato, belonging to the upper part of the municipality of Chox, where for almost more than a week now, some clashes have been reported. 

Apparently, the conflict had subsided, calm had returned. However, once again yesterday, residents reported abuses, even by federal forces, and the excessive use of force. Residents reported that yesterday, members of the Navy arrived by land to the aforementioned community. 

Apparently, they left their trucks far from this community and arrived by land, practically without anyone noticing, where a criminal group that had broken into this community and other nearby communities had been stationed for days. However, this group remained in that location. It was established that upon arriving at the scene, the armed civilians ran toward a hill where they barricaded themselves and from there exchanged gunfire with members of the Navy for practically between 40 minutes and an hour, according to the residents themselves. It was not immediately known whether there were any injuries or deaths. However, no reports were made, at least not until the final minutes of yesterday. As a result, the officers carried out a series of searches and court orders. According to reports, the residents themselves raided several homes, causing destruction and abuse of authority. 

However, the same places, the same houses, had allegedly also been looted by this criminal group, since it is reported that it was there. Faced with this wave of violence that is ravaging this mountainous area of ​​Choix, residents of the mountains remain on alert and in uncertainty, as they have been victims, as I already mentioned, of looting and burning of houses and vehicles.

 This in the communities of the municipalities of Bacayopa and Ycorato, as well as the communities of Casas Viejas, which belong to the municipality of Jox, and the part of the summit and the tcates, which already belong to the municipality of Morelos, in the state of Chihuahua, but which are adjacent to the same area. They even shared yesterday a video and photographs where the destruction and damage resulting from these acts of vandalism can be observed, both by the criminal group that broke in a few days ago and, allegedly, also by the Members of the Navy Secretariat, who, according to what was mentioned, broke into homes regardless of the time and whether there were children, women, or elderly people inside. Residents indicated that despite the arrival of a Mexican army platoon a few days ago and maintaining calm in the area, they remained there because they had already had peace, so to speak, in the Bacayopa area. But yesterday, that peace was broken precisely with this new confrontation that occurred in the Ycuarato area, that is, further down.

About 40 minutes approximately on this country road that connects both states, a situation they said makes us feel unprotected. And well, I'd also like to tell you that last night, when just after the shooting had happened, between this armed group and Navy personnel, the alleged looting and burning of houses was also reported in the community of the San Pantaleón plateau and the last ford. They were reporting the situation near the borders of the state of Chihuahua, practically, but at another end of the Chox area, right, right where Bacayopi and Corato are located, where these events had been reported. Well, they were reporting to C4 Norte that a convoy of armed civilians had broken into those communities and that, in addition, between two and three drones were flying over the houses. This kept them on alert, especially for fear that it would be searched. A confrontation, and they were asking for help. They were asking for the presence of federal forces precisely to prevent this armed group from breaking into their homes because, well, they said, they feared what happened in other communities. And they were reporting precisely that before this happened, they said communications might have been cut off, as happened in other communities. After the armed group broke in, they were left practically cut off about this incident. These reports were being received by the C4, and even personally, we received reports after we learned that it was at the San Pantaleón table. They also informed us that this heavily armed group of civilians was at the last ford, another community that is very close to that site. And well, regarding this, the police authorities in Choice confirmed and informed us that the National Guard and personnel from the Secretariat The National Defense authorities were already aware of this insecurity situation that was occurring in that area. At least last night around 9:00 p.m., between 9 and 10:00 p.m. However, at the moment it is unknown if they went to that area because there was no longer any communication. It is unknown if they went. It is also unknown what happened in these communities, which are practically far from everything, just far from the authorities because it is even far from the municipal seat of Choix. And well, that is where this situation occurred, which we hope has not escalated, but the residents remained on alert due to this invasion, so to speak, by a criminal group that claimed to have arrived in the community, and what scared them most was that several drones were flying over the roofs of their houses and said, "There could be some confrontation that has not happened yet." How did this situation end?

This is the information at the moment, Sam.

Well, the report is very complete. This also happened yesterday in the mountainous region of Choix. It would be practically the second confrontation of serious proportions that has occurred in a matter of days, despite the fact that the authorities and a military detachment are already there, stationed in the Choik area in the mountainous areas.

Eh, even so, the violence broke out yesterday.

I thank you for this information, Ernesto, and we will continue to be very attentive. Good morning.

Awaiting, Samuel. Good morning.

SOURCE: LUZ NOTICIAS