Mexico Cityโค – The โMexican โขgovernment launched aโ major security operation in theโ state of michoacรกn on Sunday, deploying over 10,500 personnel from the army, air force, and National Guard in response to escalating violence and the recent assassination of a local mayor. The initiative,dubbed the Michoacรกn Plan for Peace and Justice,aims to dismantle criminal groups,combat โขextortion,and eradicate drug labs and training โฃcamps.
The deployment follows the brazen daylight murder of Carlosโ Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacรกn, on November 1st during Day of the Dead celebrations.โ Manzo had publicly criticized the federal government’sโ response to organized crime in theโค region. His death underscored the growing insecurity plaguing Michoacรกn, a keyโ agricultural state and a hotspot in Mexico’s ongoing struggle with drugโข cartels and related violence. The plan โขrepresents a significant escalation in federal intervention, signaling president Claudia Sheinbaum’s commitment to restoring order โขin a state increasingly challenged by criminal activity.
The operation willโค involve an investment of 57 billion โpesos (US$3.10 โbillion), according to Sheinbaum.Beyond a โmilitary and law enforcement surge, the plan encompasses bolstering state-levelโ police forces and the stateโค attorney general’s office, alongside increased resources for social programs focused on welfare, โagriculture,โค infrastructure, tourism, and employment.
senior members โขof Sheinbaum’s cabinetโ participated in the โproclamation at Mexico’s National Palace, including Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, โand โขAgriculture Minister Julio Berdegue. Michoacรกn โขhas experienced a โresurgence of violence in recent months,โค prompting calls for greater federal intervention to address theโข escalating crisis.