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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Mexico Released Captured Cartel Boss After Gunmen Take Cops Hostage |
| 2026-10-16 |
| [BB] The incident began this week in the Mexican state of Morelos, when state authorities captured Jose David “El Guero Jim” Vergara, the leader of a regional cartel known as Pueblos Unidos – an ally of the Sinaloa Cartel. According to Mexican authorities, shortly after the arrest, Vergara’s gunmen took to the streets, setting up blockades. They kidnapped three police officers and threatened to kill them if the crime boss was not released. The criminal group also rallied locals to protest the arrest. The move forced state authorities to establish communications with the criminal organization and negotiate a prisoner exchange. When asked about the release of the crime boss and the precedent it sets, Sheinbaum defended the move, saying it was done to save lives. “It can be difficult,” she said. “But above everything, you have to save lives.” The move has sparked harsh criticism from political opponents who claimed that the government did not even push for a rescue operation or a harder crackdown on the cartel. The cartel tactic has been compared to the infamous Culiacanazo or Battle for Culiacan incident in 2019, where Mexican federal authorities arrested Sinaloa Cartel Kingpin Ovidio Guzman. Following his arrest, the cartel invaded the city. In response, then Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered the release of Guzman to prevent any more bloodshed. Mexico’s top security official Omar Garcia Harfuch claimed that the arrest in Morelos was not part of an operation to capture the drug lord but was a chance encounter while state authorities were carrying out routine tasks. He claimed that state authorities were outmatched by the cartel and did not have the backup of federal authorities since it was a chance encounter and not a planned operation. Related: Morelos: 2026-04-22 Mexican president in the dark about drug operation after which US, Mexican officials were killed; US officials Morelos: 2026-04-20 Two US Embassy personnel killed in 'accident' in Mexico, ambassador says Morelos: 2023-04-13 Troops sent to resorts that Sobchak called an alternative to the Maldives Related: Vergara 01/07/2025 Wisconsin shooter's baby-faced accomplice breaks silence after being accused of plotting attack that killed two Vergara 03/22/2019 Guaidó: Who made the decision to imprison Roberto Marrero "committed another awkwardness" Vergara 03/22/2019 Group of Lima rejects detention of Roberto Marrero |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
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| Posted by: DarthVader 2026-10-16 14:54 |
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| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2026-10-16 12:43 |
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| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2026-10-16 12:40 |
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| Posted by: Procopius2k 2026-10-16 11:07 |