MEXICO CITY (MEXICO) – When Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador visited the region which is home to one of the most powerful drug cartels, a video was circulated on social media on Friday, depicting a long convoy of armoured vehicles of the cartel, resembling those used by the armed forces.
The video, which is two minutes long, shows members of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel clad in military fatigues alongside a long convoy of vehicles with armoured plating.
The members of the gang shouted “Only Mencho’s people” pumping their fists and displaying their guns. It was their way of saluting their leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who is one of the most wanted drug lords of Mexico.
It was released to coincide with the visit to the president to the states of Guanajuato, Jalisco and Colima, which are virtually controlled by the cartel.
“They are sending a clear message… that they basically rule Mexico, not Lopez Obrador,” said Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Although it is not known when the video was recorded, it seemed to be authentic, said Vigil.
According to law enforcement officials, CJNG is the country’s most dreaded gang along with the Sinaloa Cartel which was formerly headed by jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. The cartel is accused of influencing the poorly paid and ill-trained police departments across the states to protect its criminal rackets.
The assassination attempt of Mexico City security chief Omar Garcia Harfuch in late June was blamed on the cartel. It took place in a posh district of the city in broad daylight.
Instead of going for a confrontation with the cartels, Obrador has opted to fight the root causes such as poverty and unemployment among youth through social spending.
However, security analysts have branded the president’s strategy as one of “hugs not bullets”, which has made the cartels bolder.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field