Cartel Kidnaps 100 Farmers in Guerrero Land Grab

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Activists in Mexico have raised alarms over the kidnapping of more than 100 farmers in the cartel-controlled state of Guerrero. According to Catholic Father Filiberto Velazquez, director of the Minerva Bello Center for the Rights of Victims of Violence, the victims were held by La Familia Michoacana as a means to pressure locals into allowing the terror group to establish a base of operations in the region.

Protests Spark Government Response

The mass kidnappings came to light when local farmers in Guerrero began holding protests demanding the release of seven kidnapped farmers who had been held captive for 23 days. The protests prompted Mexico’s government to take action, deploying military forces to conduct search operations. After several days of pressure, six of the seven kidnapped victims were released.

Victims Reveal Terrifying Details

According to Velazquez, the released farmers revealed that they had been taken to a location housing over 100 kidnapping victims, all held by cartel gunmen. The victims claimed the cartel used multiple trucks to move the captives to various locations to evade authorities. During their captivity, the seven released farmers were subjected to physical and psychological torture, including severe beatings and threats of murder.

Government Ignored

Velazquez stated that since their release, Guerrero government officials have failed to provide support or care, leaving the victims to cover their own medical expenses. The reason for the kidnappings is tied to a land grab by La Familia Michoacana, which seeks to establish a base in the rural community of El Bajon de Ajuchitlan. The community has resisted the cartel’s presence, and the kidnapping appears to be an attempt to suppress this resistance, with efforts to coerce some farmers into joining the organization.

Source: Breitbart

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claire.thomson