Conflict in Caborca, Sonora Leaves 2 Dead and 2 Injured

Mexico City, September 7 – A confrontation between a criminal group and the Armed Forces in Caborca, Sonora, resulted in a balance of two people dead, two elements of the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) injured, and several vehicles and firearms seized.

According to the sequence of events, there was a chase of armed people in vehicles, initially at 10th Street and “N” Avenue, where elements of the State Public Safety Police repelled the criminals. Moments later, a lifeless man was found, as well as a vehicle with gunshot wounds and rifle-like weapon chargers on 10th Avenue, at the height of Sonora Street.

The authorities reported that two alleged criminals have been “neutralized” in the municipality of Caborca, where a joint operation is being carried out between the three levels of Government.

The authorities claimed that two members of the Sedena were injured on the way to the La Y Griega ejido. In this incident, another alleged criminal, who was traveling on a motorcycle and was allegedly carrying a loaded AK-47 caliber firearm, was killed. During the pursuit of the accused, 14 vehicles were seized, including an ATV.

Security organizations seize 14 vehicles, firearms and neutralize two alleged criminals in Caborca

– Coordinated operations are carried out in the area

Caborca, Sonora, September 7, 2024.- The product of an operation carried out by the Mexican Army and Police… pic.twitter.com/23i8G4iFGF

— State Security Board of the State of Sonora (@MesaSegSonora) September 7, 2024

Investigations Underway

Following these events, the Office of the Attorney General in the State of Sonora has initiated the corresponding investigations in order to identify and capture those who are likely to be responsible; the population will be informed of the progress of these investigations when appropriate processes allow, in accordance with the population’s right to access information.

Caborca: A Strategic Location for Organized Crime

InsightCrime highlights that Caborca is a municipality that has been important for several generations of organized crime because of its access routes to the United States. “Where marijuana and heroin once flowed, now fentanyl and methamphetamine flow.” However, since 2020 it has been a battleground for the sons of El Chapo and the Caborca Cartel.

Its strategic location connects the south with Jalisco and Sinaloa, enclaves of synthetic drug production; to the southwest with the Sea of Cortez, a gateway for drugs and fuel; and to the north, with Arizona, the United States, the point of arrival for the trafficking of migrants, drugs and weapons, while air trafficking from Sonora has also become more popular recently.

This criminal context has had an impact on the security of the entity. According to the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, in 2024 Sonora accumulates 397 homicides committed with firearms, 3,472 theft crimes and 2,043 drug dealing crimes.

On the other hand, the Mexican Institute for Human Rights and Democracy (IMDHD) highlights in its latest report that Hermosillo concentrates the largest number of cases of missing people in the state. “By May 2024, it remained the borough with the highest number of cases, going from 945 to 900 cases. Caborca, Puerto Peñasco and San Luis Río Colorado enter the five municipalities with the most missing people, replacing Cajeme, Guaymas and Agua Prieta.”

“Disappearances in Sonora began to increase starting in 2012, and 2020 was the year with the highest concentration of cases, with 633 people still missing. The total decreased the following two years to increase again in 2023, with 224 people missing. There is a strong change in the trend, which goes from an increase in cases in 2020 of more than 500 per year to a decrease of less than 250 from 2021 onwards.