Mexico's Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, better known as Los Matazetas ("the Zeta killers"), struck out again yesterday in the country's cultural capital of Guadalajara, a city which has been largely immune to the ravages of the six year old drug war.
It was the second such attack in Mexico's second largest metropolis in less than six months (Narco terror in metropolitan Guadalajara), and the third in less than a year (Narco terror strikes Guadalajara).
Vehicles were set afire on public roads at 22 separate locations, seven within the city and 15 in other areas of Jalisco state. The fiery blockades occurred after a federal drug strike force killed three cartel members earlier in the day, and arrested a high ranking Matazeta official.
Authorities first said that no one was injured in the brazen assaults. But today they announced that a 24 year old man died after he was struck in the head by a stray bullet. Gunmen stationed along roads fired indiscriminately at passing motorists who refused to stop and surrender their vehicles to be used in the blockades, the state prosecutor's office reported.
El Universal has excellent coverage this morning, with many photographs and a graphic of effected areas: Jalisco: caos por bloqueos del narco. The paper says that one of the blockades occurred in the popular resort city of Puerto Vallarta, on the state's Pacific coast.
At least six more incidents occurred after 3:00 a.m. today in Jalisco state.
In June a U.S. security firm predicted that Guadalajara would become a hot spot for increasing narcotics violence in the months ahead. Mexican drug cartels will likely morph into "super gangs," says U.S. security firm. Events over the last nine months may be a harbinger of just that.
Apr. 17: Los Matazetas - the "Zeta killers" - may have arrived in Cancún, authorities fear
Apr. 18 - 50 Matazeta executioners in Cancún to "control the plaza" for Chapo Guzmán
Apr. 29 - Los Pelones killer in Cancún also may have been hit man for Los Matazetas
July 15 - Political power is ultimate goal of Mexican drug cartels, says U.S. expert
How is that Lake Chapala property working out?
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