Twelve men detained in Mexicali Valley after murder of two FESC agents as reprisal for Cartel leader death in shootout

ALFREDO AZCARATE VARELA
THE BAJA POST/EDITOR

State and federal security forces dealt a major blow to criminal cartels by securing two houses and killing a high-ranking leader of «Los Rusos»—a fearsome group affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel. This action triggered a criminal counterattack that claimed the lives of two officers and a woman; authorities are now launching an all-out offensive against the group.

Over a 48-hour period, Baja California’s Institutional Coordination Forces arrested 12 individuals and seized stolen vehicles, a motorcycle, firearms, and drugs. Two properties in the Mexicali Valley, suspected of serving as Cartel’s safe houses, were also taken into custody.

Five of the twelve detained individuals may be linked to Sinaloa Cartel and might be among the leaders, responsible for direct attacks on State Force officers

During the week of June 22, FESC state police forces raided two properties in the Mexicali Valley, seizing cars, weapons, and drugs, and sparking a shootout that resulted in the death of a high-ranking cartel leader.

All evidence points to a cell belonging to «Los Rusos»—the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel—specifically the «Mayitos» faction, which dominates entire areas of the Mexicali Valley and has wreaked havoc on local communities

Two days later—on the night of July 26 and into the early hours of July 27—two FESC officers were gunned down by Cartel hitmen who had been hunting them; both officers died, and in the second incident, the officer’s wife was also killed.

The Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSCBC) and the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) announced in a press conference that they had identified the criminal groups behind the deadly attacks and vowed to pursue them aggressively, theorizing that the perpetrators are members of the «Rusos» group. Nearly a week later, work is proceeding at an accelerated pace to clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two state officers.

Since Sunday afternoon and throughout Monday, dozens of police officers—supported by the Mexican Army—have carried out operations at strategic locations across the Mexicali Valley. Security operations are expected to continue over the coming hours until the individuals directly responsible are located and brought to justice.