On Monday, July 21, Operation Liberation was implemented, a broad security operation deployed by state and federal authorities in at least 11 municipalities in the State of Mexico, primarily in the southern and northern regions.
The objective was to dismantle the financial structures of organized crime, specifically cells associated with the Familia Michoacana, which have reportedly extended their influence to economic sectors such as construction and the basic food basket.
Which municipalities were raided by authorities?
Members of the state Attorney General’s Office, the State of Mexico Security Secretariat, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Guard participated in the operations.
The operation included searches of hardware stores, construction material stores, and other properties in municipalities such as:
Temascaltepec
Tlatlaya
Luvianos
Tejupilco
Valle de Bravo
Villa Victoria
Ixtapan de la Sal, among others.
Searches Cause Blockades of Access to Municipalities
After the initial searches, transport workers affiliated with local unions blocked main roads and access points to various towns.
During the searches, construction materials, livestock, meat, and other raw materials related to criminal activities were seized.
Residents from communities such as San Pedro Limón, in the municipality of Tlatlaya, also joined in. They reported abuses by authorities, and nearly 60 members of various corporations were detained, preventing them from continuing the operations.
Where are the blockades?
The affected areas are:
Ixtapan de la Sal: closures on the Tonatico Tourist Boulevard, the Ixtapan–Coatepec Harinas Highway, and other roads.
The Puerta a Sultepec Highway, a key route between the Toluca Valley and southern Mexico, was also partially closed.
Therefore, municipal authorities have asked the population to stay home and avoid going out, given the presence of armed forces and active roadblocks on several roads.
What are residents reporting?
Residents have accused law enforcement of alleged irregularities during the searches.
While they agree with combating criminal groups, they demand that the actions not violate their human rights or affect legitimate businesses in the region.
Were there any violent incidents?
During the protests in San Pedro Limón, union members intercepted a SSEM patrol car, disarmed the police officers, and vandalized the vehicle, further escalating tensions between residents and authorities.
What have the authorities said?
So far, neither the FGJEM nor the state government have provided official details about the results of the operation, the number of arrests, or whether any officers were injured or detained. Information has circulated mainly through unofficial sources and municipal reports.
Valle de Bravo Roadblocks Released
More than 24 hours after this operation began, which resulted in blockades by members of freight and public transport unions, an intensive operation was implemented this Tuesday to regain control of some roads seized by protesters.
The El Fresno and El Arco highways were cleared of blockades by taxi and trucking drivers who opposed Operation Liberation.
Persons held captive in Tlatlaya released
The 60 persons held captive by residents, taxi drivers, and transport workers in San Pedro Limón have now been released.
Source: milenio
