Mexico arrests 46 criminals posing as vigilantes
Mexico arrests 46 criminals posing as vigilantes
The Associated Press April 22, 2014 Updated 57 minutes ago
MORELIA, Mexico — Mexican authorities said Tuesday that they have arrested 46 people who worked for criminal gangs but posed as members of vigilante "self-defense" groups.
The vigilante movement sprang up last year in the western state of Michoacan to fight the Knights Templar drug cartel. The heavily armed vigilantes wear white T-shirts with slogans demanding freedom for their home towns, or the slogan "Self Defense Group."
The federal envoy to Michoacan, Alfredo Castillo, said the arrested gang members were wearing similar, but fake, T-shirts. They were arrested Monday in the town of Huetamo, near the neighboring state of Guerrero, after they opened fire on federal forces.
The suspects were found with 23 guns, three grenades and a grenade launcher. Castillo did not specify which gang the suspects belonged to, but vigilante spokesman Estanislao Beltran said they belonged to the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel.
More:
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/04/22/3613170/mexico-arrests-46-suspects-posing.html#storylink=cpy
