Authorities reported that an armed confrontation between civilians and security forces on a highway in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon left ten suspected criminals dead on Monday. Gerardo Palacios, Nuevo Leon’s Secretary of Public Security, stated on Facebook that Fuerza Civil personnel were shot at by individuals traveling in three armored vans. In addition to the ten criminals killed, three armored vans were secured.
The confrontation took place on a highway connecting Nuevo León with the city of Nuevo Laredo, in the state of Tamaulipas, a region that has been affected by organized crime-related violence. As a result of the confrontation, three police officers were injured in a car accident, and another officer suffered gunshot wounds.
Nuevo Leon, an important industrial center in Mexico located on the border with the United States, is home to several major companies, such as the Korean assembler Kia. Despite this, the roads connecting Nuevo León with neighboring Tamaulipas have been the scene of kidnappings, disappearances, and robberies.
Mexico has registered more than 340,000 murders and around 100,000 missing persons, mostly attributed to criminal organizations, since the start of a controversial military anti-drug offensive in December 2006. These figures reflect the serious violence and security situation facing the country.
The armed confrontation in Nuevo Leon highlights the challenges that persist in the fight against organized crime in Mexico and underscores the need to strengthen security strategies and promote effective cooperation between law enforcement agencies to ensure the protection of citizens and maintain peace in the affected regions.