Business leaders in southern Mexico and civil organizations have demanded that federal and state authorities reinforce security along the Mexico-Guatemala border in response to escalating violence linked to clashes between organized crime groups operating across borders, such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Chiapas and Guatemala Cartel (CCyG).
The call was spearheaded by César García Jiménez, president of the Pro-Centro organization of merchants and business owners in downtown Tapachula, who urged the Mexican Army, the National Guard (GN), and Chiapas state authorities to “shield” the region with a greater deployment of security forces:
“Our southern border is very porous; it’s very easy to cross, and that allows criminals to infiltrate Chiapas,” García Jiménez stated in remarks reported by news agencies.
The southern border—historically a critical area due to its migration, trade, and drug trafficking routes—has recently seen clashes between organized crime groups that have left one civilian dead and a Guatemalan soldier wounded on the neighboring side.
García Jiménez warned that the climate of violence has caused a drop of up to 30% in the arrival of Guatemalan visitors, a direct blow to local businesses. This is especially true in December, when an economic recovery was expected after months of difficulties for the productive sector.
For his part, Abel Méndez Ruiz, president of the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Canacintra), pointed out that the southern border “is neglected” and lacks the operational authority to guarantee public safety:
“Greater control, more operations, and coordination between agencies are needed so that Tapachula can regain the order it once had,” Méndez emphasized.
In a broader call, representatives of social organizations such as Alfredo de la Cruz Cordero, from the New Generation Social Linkage Association, demanded a “clean-up” from the Soconusco region to the border line with Guatemala, an area they describe as highly productive but vulnerable to criminal dynamics.
Source: infobae
