PROFILPELAJAR.COM

On August 8, 2019, Mexican authorities confirmed the discovery of 19 bodies in Uruapan, Michoacán. The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel, through narcomantas, claimed responsibility for the massacre, whose bodies were abandoned in three parts of the city. Six of the bodies found were hung on a vehicular bridge and others were found dismembered.^[1]

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel pointed out in the banners, various threats to alleged members of Los Viagras. Mexican media and authorities pointed out that this finding is related to the fights between cartels in the state of Michoacán, this being one of its most grotesque episodes.^[2]^[3]

Finding

In the early hours of August 8 2019, police corporations responded to an emergency call, alerting seven dismembered bodies on Industrial Boulevard, a few steps from the Petróleos de México pedestrian bridge.^[4] Minutes later, authorities located another six bodies found on Industrial Boulevard, but at the intersection with Libramiento Oriente, in the La Cofradía neighborhood. Finally, in the México neighborhood, bags with the remains of three people were found.^[5]^[6]

Finally around 5 in the morning, motorists alerted the municipal police authorities to report 3 hanging bodies, as well as a banner with a message, where they state that it is not the "war against the people", as well as threats against presumed members of Los Viagras.^[5]^[7] Later, personnel from the Specialized Unit arrived at the different points to collect the evidence as well as remove the bodies and the blankets that were placed.^[5]

Background

Before the massacre, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) had announced its arrival in the municipality, with a series of narcomantas who threatened other antagonistic groups with their presence.^[8]^[9]

Months later, an ambush carried out in a wooded area of the municipality, among members of criminal organizations, left 10 dead and three injured, setting off the alarms of the state authorities.^[10]^[11]

Investigation

In the following hours, authorities managed to identify among the victims a law intern, a merchant, a musician, a waiter, a housewife, and a locksmith.^[12]^[13] The following day, authorities confirmed the arrest of 14 people in related to the massacre, including two minors. The detention took place in the city of Silao.^[4]^[14]

In his morning conference, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, regretted the discovery of the bodies, mentioning that he will continue to fight crime, with the current strategy, in addition to pointing out the precedent that in Michoacán was carried out the first operation of the armed forces, under the command of the then president Felipe Calderón.^[15]^[16]