Tijuana, Mexico's infamous border city, is facing a new wave of violence unlike anything it's seen before. This time, it's not just rival cartels battling it out, but angry drug lords hunting down corrupt police officers who dared to steal their shipment.
It all started in mid-November when a group of officers hatched a plan to rob a warehouse filled with drugs belonging to the notorious Sinaloa cartel. Video footage of them driving away with truckloads of cocaine quickly emerged, sparking immediate retaliation.
Within hours, gunmen riddled the federal prosecutors' office with bullets, a clear message to anyone involved. Shortly after, one of the officers was gunned down on the street, followed by a state detective killed while getting gas.
The cartel's ruthlessness didn't stop there. Two more officers were shot and killed in broad daylight, and at least three others have also died in suspected revenge attacks.
Former police chief Alberto Capella believes this is a new low for Tijuana, a city already notorious for its violence. He recalls firing a quarter of the police force when he took over due to corruption, but stealing an entire cartel shipment is unprecedented.
This latest episode of bloodshed stems from a surge in violence that began in 2017, fueled by turf wars between various cartels. The Jalisco New Generation cartel, the Sinaloa cartel, and remnants of the old Arellano Felix gang are the main players, leaving innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Journalists, singers, and even the mayor have become targets. In January 2022, two journalists were murdered, and in November, the city council banned the performance of narco ballads that glorify traffickers.
Mayor Montserrat Caballero even took refuge at an army base after receiving threats believed to be from cartels. In a desperate attempt to stop the violence, she pleaded with the cartels to spare civilians and settle their scores with those who wronged them.
But the fear extends far beyond government officials and police. Tijuana is a bustling city filled with businesses, tourists, and immigrants hoping to reach the United States. The constant violence threatens everyone's safety and casts a dark shadow over the city's future.
As the hunt for the remaining officers continues and the cartel's wrath unfolds, one thing remains clear: Tijuana's nightmare is far from over. The city is caught in a deadly game, and only time will tell if it can find a way to escape the clutches of violence and corruption.
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