Arcos’s death follows the assassination of Francisco Tapia three days prior
The mayor of the violence-plagued state of Guerrero in Mexico was assassinated on Sunday, less than a week after he took office. The state’s governor confirmed that Alejandro Arcos was killed just six days after he became the mayor of the city of Chilpancingo, which has a population of around 280,000 people in southwestern Mexico.
The official confirmation came after photos circulated on the messaging app WhatsApp, depicting a severed head on top of a pick-up truck, appearing to be that of Arcos. Arcos’ death occurred just three days after the assassination of Francisco Tapia, the new city government’s secretary.
“They were young and honest officials who sought progress for their community,” Senator Alejandro Moreno wrote on social media.
Mexico’s PRI political party leader, Moreno, has urged the federal attorney general’s office to take charge of the investigation into the murders of Arcos and Tapia. This request is due to the “ungovernability” situation in Guerrero, which has become one of the most dangerous states for both aspiring and elected public officials, as well as journalists. In the lead-up to Mexico’s June 2 elections, at least six candidates for public office were killed in Guerrero.
Guerrero and cartels
The state of Guerrero is strategically important for organized crime groups due to its involvement in drug trafficking and extortion. Guerrero has historically been a center for marijuana and poppy cultivation, and in recent years, has also become a major location for coca cultivation, used in the production of cocaine. The state is a crucial transit point for drug shipments heading north to the United States and is home to the Port of Acapulco, which crime groups exploit to receive cocaine shipments from South America via go-fast boats.
Guerreros Unidos cartel
The Guerreros Unidos is a faction of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO) operating in central Mexico. The group is primarily involved in extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking to the United States. They are known for their aggressive tactics and extreme violence.
Their main rivals are Los Rojos, and they have also clashed with the Familia Michoacana, the Knights Templar cartels, and the Insurgent People’s Revolutionary Army (ERPI). According to the DEA, the Guerreros Unidos is currently collaborating with the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG) to control drug routes and distribution networks in the United States.
In September 2014, student protesters in Iguala, Guerrero were attacked, which has been attributed to the Guerreros Unidos. According to Mexican authorities, local police detained 43 students and handed them over to the Guerreros Unidos. The group proceeded to murder the students one by one and burn their bodies, resulting in what is now known as the Ayotzinapa Massacre.
