Six individuals were apprehended in Mexico’s tumultuous southern Chiapas state for possessing unlicensed firearms, authorities disclosed on Sunday, amid a surge of violence that displaced over 4,000 people.
Mexican media reports revealed armed attackers descended upon Tila municipality over the weekend, unleashing gunfire and setting ablaze homes and businesses.
According to the Chiapas prosecutor’s office, more than 4,000 individuals were “rescued” from their homes where they had sought refuge during the violent outbursts and were relocated to shelters.
Regrettably, two fatalities, including a minor, were reported, and at least 17 structures, both residential and commercial, succumbed to flames. Additionally, over 20 vehicles were torched or vandalized.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of six individuals found with unlicensed firearms in the area late Sunday.
Reforma newspaper detailed that the armed assailants had coerced local youths to join criminal groups.
The escalation of violence in Chiapas is ascribed to clashes between the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels, Mexico’s largest criminal factions, competing for dominance over drug trafficking routes and other illegal enterprises, including extortion, as per the InSight Crime think tank.
Since 2006, Mexico has grappled with over 450,000 recorded homicides, primarily linked to criminal organizations, following the government’s deployment of the military to combat drug trafficking.