The recent criminal activity in Texcaltitlán refers to a violent confrontation that occurred on December 8, 2023, between residents and alleged members of a criminal group known as La Familia Michoacana.
The clash resulted in 14 deaths, 11 of which were suspected criminals and three of which were civilians. The incident was triggered by the refusal of the locals to pay extortion fees to the criminal group, which had been harassing and threatening them for months. The locals fought back with machetes and firearms, and some vehicles were set on fire during the exchange of gunfire. The security forces intervened and restored order after several hours.
The confrontation in Texcaltitlán has raised concerns about the security situation in the State of Mexico, which is one of the most populous and violent states in the country. The state has been plagued by the presence and activity of various criminal groups, such as La Familia Michoacana, Los Zetas, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which compete for the control of drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and other illicit businesses.
The state government, led by Governor Alfredo del Mazo, has been criticized for its inability to contain and combat the crime wave, and for its lack of coordination and cooperation with the federal government, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The confrontation in Texcaltitlán has also damaged the image of López Obrador, who has been accused of being soft and ineffective on crime, and of prioritizing his political agenda over the security of the citizens.
López Obrador keeps defending his security strategy of “Hugs not Bullets”, which is based on addressing the root causes of violence, such as poverty, inequality, and corruption, and on promoting social programs, dialogue, and amnesty for some offenders; and that has been considered absurd by many experts.
He has also blamed his opponents and the media for exaggerating and politicizing the violence, and for undermining his efforts to achieve peace and justice.
Source: LPO
