Brazen cartel attack in Mexico City opens new front in crime battle

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s bustling capital was once seen as a relative oasis in the country’s drug war, but a shocking military-style assassination attempt on the city’s police chief offers evidence that at least one gang is not afraid to break the peace.

The hyper-violent New Generation Jalisco Cartel, or CJNG, was quickly pinpointed as the likely culprit for the wounded target of the attack, Mexico City security chief Omar García Harfuch in a message tapped on his phone shortly after the shooting, probably from His hospital bed.

Garcia Harfuch, 38, who was shot in the shoulder, clavicle, and knee during the attack, defiantly promised to continue working.

While the cartel’s gunmen failed to kill Garcia Harfuch early on Friday morning in one of Mexico City’s most exclusive neighborhoods, two of his bodyguards plus an innocent bystander on their way to work were shot dead. shots in cross fire.

“Until recently, many denied that the large drug cartels operated in Mexico City, and it simply isn’t true,” said security expert Erubiel Tirado.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in a video message Saturday that government intelligence services knew that such an attack on the boss was being planned, and were able to warn him ahead of time to take additional precautions.

Almost 20 suspects have already been arrested in the case, according to Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, including the man described as the leader of the attempted murder.

The attack took place on the city’s leafy Paseo de la Reforma boulevard. Security camera footage showed heavily armed and mostly hooded cartel gunmen exiting a truck after blocking the road and unleashing hundreds of rounds in Garcia Harfuch’s armored SUV.

Many analysts described the coup as a show of strength by the CJNG and evidence that drug gangs are likely expanding their presence in the capital of Mexico. Some, however, offered a contrary view.

“To me, this seemed like the futile fight of a drowned man rather than a show of force,” said poster expert Tomas Guevara.

He noted that preliminary reports describe about three weeks of planning that went into the attack, and noted a well-executed police counteroffensive immediately afterward in which fleeing cartel gunmen were quickly detained.

“In Mexico City, at least, the police are doing a good job … and I hope this can propel other police departments in other states.”

CJNG is considered the strongest gang in Mexico, along with the Sinaloa Cartel previously led by imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. He is often credited with successfully infiltrating underpaid and trained local police departments across the country to better protect his powerful criminal scams.

Unlike his predecessors, López Obrador has sought a less confrontational approach to fighting crime, preferring to attack what he describes as root causes such as poverty and youth unemployment, through social spending.

Leftist López Obrador repeated that message on Saturday, stressing that he will not “declare war on anyone” and promised to avoid future attacks.

“We will not let them intimidate us,” he said.

However, during López Obrador’s first full year in office last year, the murders hit a new record, and the murder rate is on track to beat it this year.

The creepy crime wave will likely put new pressure on the president to change his tactic.

“The army will have to be brought in,” Tirado said, although he acknowledged that it likely will not contain the growth of sophisticated actors like CJNG or new rounds of deadly shootings.

“We have seen this movie before.”