Mortar Bomb event in Mexico on Wed 19th August 2026

An operational deployment by air and land carried out by elements of the Secretariat of National Defense ( SEDENA ) against a cell of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel ( CJNG ) triggered an intense day of violence in the state of Michoacán , including the  attack on the CFE substation in Carapan. The military actions, aimed at dismantling a criminal structure linked to Heraclio Guerrero Martínez , alias " Tío Lako ", resulted in a confrontation that left five hitmen dead , as well as a wave of narco-blockades with burning vehicles in 24 sections of highways covering twelve municipalities of the state. 

The mobilization of federal forces began around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday with the arrival of Mexican Army Special Forces units at the Uruapan airport . From there, the troops deployed by land toward the border region with Jalisco . 

During the operation, an armed clash with civilians occurred in the town of Los Palillos , within the municipality of Los Reyes , where five of the attackers were killed. The military presence extended until the early hours of Wednesday, culminating in the arrest of several members of the criminal group, though the arrest of El Tio Lako has not yet been confirmed.