Culiacán, Sinaloa: Authorities Disrupt Armed Criminal Cell Over Christmas
In an operation during the festive season, Mexican authorities have dismantled a dangerous criminal cell in Culiacán, Sinaloa. The move resulted in the detention of four individuals and the seizure of a substantial arsenal, including high-powered firearms, grenades, tactical gear, armored vehicles, and ammunition.
Omar García Harfuch, head of the Ministry of Public Security (SSPC), broke the news on his social media account. He confirmed that the operation, which took place on Christmas Day, led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of a significant amount of weapons and equipment.
"The CNI, in coordination with the Subsecretary of Investigation and the Ministry of Public Security of Sinaloa, will continue these actions to reduce violence in the state," Harfuch added.
Local media outlets, such as Los Noticieristas and Luz Noticias, reported a heavy military presence in the vicinity of Las Quintas in Culiacán. According to Los Noticieristas, residents taken to social media to report the operation, claiming to have heard shots fired.
Witnesses at the scene saw armored military vehicles leaving the area, accompanied by government vehicles and some seized trucks.
In a later statement, the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) confirmed that the arrested individuals were in possession of long firearms, a machine gun, and five vehicles.
"The agents identified armed persons in the La Campiña neighborhood (next to Las Quintas) in the municipality of Culiacán," the SSPC said in a statement. "To prevent them from harming the population, they approached them to carry out a security inspection."
The four detainees, aged 20, 24, 28, and 29, were found with four long firearms, a machine gun, a grenade launcher attachment, as well as four pickup trucks and a car. All seized items and detainees were handed over to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine their legal status and initiate an investigation.
This operation comes after authorities reported zero homicides in Culiacán on Christmas Eve and only one in the municipality of Escuinapa. Although no homicides were reported, seven vehicle theft reports and three kidnapping cases were registered, with most of the latter occurring in the state capital.
The local authorities’ continued efforts to maintain peace and order in Sinaloa were highlighted during the holiday season, with this major breakthrough in disrupting a dangerous criminal cell.
Source: Infobae, Los Noticieristas, Luz Noticias, SSPC
Related reading