Between bullets and the gaze of the CJNG: the visit of the Vatican representative to Agulilla

There are places, places left by the hand of God, where his apostolic nuncios arrive. It’s friday at Aguililla, one of the most dangerous municipalities in Michoacan (in central Mexico). The pontifical diplomat Franco Coppola park his car between the houses with bullet holes. He gets out of the car and walks down a dead, dirty, dark street.

For years, Coppola has moved to the underworld of crime. Pass with your Bible, conquer territories that even the police cannot reach. The purpose of these visits is always the same: to get young people out of the Drug traffic and fill a void left by the authorities in areas ravaged by insecurity.

In Aguililla, the journey of the Catholic is pleasant; however, the faith of its devotees competes with the weapons, drugs and the power of organized crime.. In the middle of a breach, a vehicle with the badge CJNG (Jalisco’s Next Generation Cartel) transits as Coppola tries to appease souls.

It’s a bad morning. In previous days, suspected members of the CJNG have launched explosive drones at state police. But Coppola continues, walks and enters. None of the men armed with guns and tactical equipment seemed to want to hear the word of God.

For 18 months, violence in the region has worsened without the authorities realizing its extent. They are bleeding to death with the aggravation of armed clashes and the serious economic crisis, gas, water and connections are cut off by criminals.

This week, the Diocese of Apzingán, chaired by Cristóbal Ascencio García and of which Aguililla is a member, announced Coopola’s visit.

The priests were the mainstay of the inhabitants of Hot earth and the mountains of Michoacán, caught between crossfire from criminal groups. The nuncio’s visit not only provides moral support, but also accentuates the absence of the Mexican authorities who have abandoned thousands of Michoacans to their fate.

The fight in Aguililla, the Sierra Leonean coast region in general, and neighboring Tierra Caliente is long overdue. The CJNG, whose presence was identified in 23 entities, had to fight territories with cartels like the Michoacan family, the Templars and the Viagras, who, seeing themselves overwhelmed, chose to join forces and formed the criminal cell known as the United Cartels.

In November of last year, this latest criminal group knocked on the doors of dozens of Tierra Caliente residents, the poorest in Apatzingán, Buena Tepalcatepec and Aquil, and informed them that the CJNG was preparing for an armed incursion and that they would destroy everything in their path.

Although there have always been crises in the state, as it is a key area for drug trafficking, since 2019 the situation has become critical. It was that year, when the four letter cartel threatened and branded a traitor Juan José Farías, alias the grandfather, recently claimed to be the leader of the criminal group Cárteles Unidos.

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