Federal and state forces detained 66 people who failed to prove their status as police officers, including one commander, during searches and arrest warrants carried out in three municipalities in Guerrero.
The operations were conducted in Tlapa de Comonfort, Chilapa de Álvarez, and Atlixtac, as part of the National Strategy Against Extortion, the Security Cabinet reported.
Elements of the Secretariat of National Defense and the National Guard participated in the actions, in coordination with the State Attorney General’s Office and the Guerrero Secretariat of Public Security.
DETENTION OF TLAPA, GUERRERO, MOBILITY DIRECTOR
Among those detained is Simitrio Álvarez, director of Mobility and Transportation of the Municipality of Tlapa de Comonfort, who, according to the official report, is linked to the crime of extortion.
Authorities reported that 284 firearms, 44 cell phones, and four official vehicles were seized during the operations.
“With these arrests, the Security Cabinet strengthens intelligence and investigative efforts to combat extortion and impunity and protect the population,” it stated.
In Tlapa, in addition to the director of Roadway Services, 21 people who were not accredited as police officers or traffic agents were detained.
CITIZENS REPORT ABUSES SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF OFFICERS
After news broke of the detention of the “fake” police officers, citizens took to social media to describe the series of abuses they have allegedly suffered at the hands of officers from the different agencies.
Dozens of residents of Tlapa went to the Mobility and Transportation facilities to request the return of their vehicles, which had been seized by uniformed officers for allegedly committing an infraction, but who, according to the residents, demanded payments of thousands of pesos in fines.
According to reports, at the municipal Traffic impound lot located at the sports courts in the municipality, at least 800 vehicles are parked, including cars, pickup trucks, scooters, and motorcycles, which were seized by officers under the orders of their director, Simitrio Álvarez. Before holding that position, he was a transportation-sector leader and is close to Tlapa Mayor Gilberto Solano Arriaga, a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Source: vanguardia
