Mexican armed forces have arrested 17 suspected cartel members in connection with the deaths of six soldiers killed by a landmine explosion in the state of Michoacán on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, an armored vehicle from a special task force unit detonated a homemade landmine while driving down a dirt road in the small village of El Santuario, Los Reyes. The blast killed six military personnel and critically injured two others.
The Mexican Army says the explosion was triggered by an improvised explosive device. The 17 individuals apprehended on May 30 are suspected to be affiliated with the Cártel de Los Reyes, which, along with the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), is one of the criminal organizations vying for control of territory in the region.
According to the Defense Ministry, 12 of the detainees are Colombian nationals. The Michoacán Attorney General’s Office received all 17 and will investigate them for their alleged involvement in laying the bombs that killed the soldiers.
Officials said that a residence serving as a cartel safe house was the site of the arrests. In addition to detaining the suspects, security authorities recovered firearms, ammunition, two cars, and explosive-making ingredients.
Reports suggest that Mexican cartels may have recruited some of the Colombian citizens as former troops or guerrilla fighters to manufacture landmine-style explosives. Mexican media outlets have previously claimed that drug cartels are actively recruiting former Colombian military members to Mexico for their explosives handling and production abilities.
Earlier this year, a former Colombian armed forces soldier told Animal Político that he was recruited by the CJNG in 2023 for explosives installation and fabrication.
“Colombian soldiers are knowledgeable in a wide range of equipment, including explosives. We understand how to activate, deactivate, and generate them. That is why Mexican cartels seek us out,” he stated.
As the investigation proceeds, the CJNG has denied any responsibility for the incident. In an online video, five members of the cartel’s “Delta CJNG” squad claimed the executions were carried out by a rival gang led by Juan José Farías Álvarez, also known as “El Abuelo Farías,” and the Cárteles Unidos.
Although the claims appear to be consistent with preliminary information from federal authorities, neither the Michoacán Attorney General’s Office nor the Mexican federal government has replied publicly.
Cárteles Unidos, while not as powerful as the Sinaloa or Jalisco cartels, has a significant influence in Central Mexico. Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes leads a group of minor factions that resist the CJNG.