Mexican Drug War: Police arrest 11 men dressed as vigilantes in Michoacan State
- 9 years ago
Originally published on March 28, 2014
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Police in the western Mexican state of Michoacan arrested 11 men on Wednesday for illegal possession of firearms, according to AFP.
Mexican authorities say the men, who were arrested in the town of Ziracuaretiro, were dressed as vigilantes, civilians organized to fight against the Knights Templar drug cartel which is prominent in the state. Authorities, however, say the men are suspected criminals, indicating they may be infiltrators or defectors from the Knights Templar.
Vigilante groups are popular in Michoacan, and typically arm themselves with assault rifles, which are illegal for civilians to own in Mexico, as well as legal shotguns or handguns which they may show if police stop them.
In Wednesday's arrest, police seized 12 rifles, 10 handguns, 160 rounds of ammunition, 11 magazines for ammunition and a van. The men were wearing white t-shirts, the unofficial uniform of vigilantes in Michoacan state. The t-shirts are typically emblazoned with the vigilante group's slogan as well as the name of their town.
In places where the vigilantes have displaced the Knights Templar, there are reports that they have also taken over the cartel's old protection rackets. The federal government has announced that it will not tolerate criminal activity by the vigilantes.
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Police in the western Mexican state of Michoacan arrested 11 men on Wednesday for illegal possession of firearms, according to AFP.
Mexican authorities say the men, who were arrested in the town of Ziracuaretiro, were dressed as vigilantes, civilians organized to fight against the Knights Templar drug cartel which is prominent in the state. Authorities, however, say the men are suspected criminals, indicating they may be infiltrators or defectors from the Knights Templar.
Vigilante groups are popular in Michoacan, and typically arm themselves with assault rifles, which are illegal for civilians to own in Mexico, as well as legal shotguns or handguns which they may show if police stop them.
In Wednesday's arrest, police seized 12 rifles, 10 handguns, 160 rounds of ammunition, 11 magazines for ammunition and a van. The men were wearing white t-shirts, the unofficial uniform of vigilantes in Michoacan state. The t-shirts are typically emblazoned with the vigilante group's slogan as well as the name of their town.
In places where the vigilantes have displaced the Knights Templar, there are reports that they have also taken over the cartel's old protection rackets. The federal government has announced that it will not tolerate criminal activity by the vigilantes.
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