SAA event in Mexico on Tue 12th May 2026

An armed chase sparked chaos this Monday at the turnoff to Playas de Catazajá, on the Villahermosa-Escárcega federal highway in Chiapas, where armed civilians intercepted a pickup truck and opened fire on the highway. Witnesses reported that the victims tried to escape while continuous bursts of gunfire were heard. Upon arriving at the scene, motorists found shell casings scattered near the intersection and vehicles blocking the road, while residents sought refuge in businesses and wooded areas. Sources consulted by XEVA Noticias indicated that the attack may have been directed against several ranchers who were allegedly kidnapped after trying to defend themselves against their attackers. Another version points to a dispute between criminal groups operating in the border region between Chiapas and Tabasco, an area historically used as a corridor for drug and arms trafficking and the passage of armed cells. The incident occurred approximately 30 kilometers from the site where authorities seized a small plane carrying 636 kilograms of cocaine, valued at over 131 million pesos, this past weekend—an operation that heightened tensions in the Catazajá region. Federal investigations have identified the area as a strategic location for clandestine operations due to its land connections and proximity to routes leading to the Gulf. Following the shootout, members of the National Guard and the Chiapas Attorney General's Office launched an operation on highways and access roads in the area to locate those responsible and determine whether the attack was related to kidnapping, a settling of scores, or a territorial dispute.