Mexico: 6 Dead After Shooting in Jalisco Drug Rehabilitation Center
Several gunmen opened fire on a privately-run drug rehabilitation center in the western Mexican state of Jalisco last Monday. The shooting resulted in the deaths of six people, five of whom were men and one was a woman. The attack occurred around midnight in Guadalajara's Tlaquepaque suburb.
Several people were involved in the attack, according to the Guadalajara prosecutor's office. However, they did not offer any information on a motive for the attack yet, as reported by the Associated Press.
Jalisco State Plagued by Gang Violence and the Infamous Jalisco New Generation Cartel
While it is still unknown who the gunmen were or their motives in the attack, there had been a series of violent incidents around the state of Jalisco over the past few years. Much of the violence is attributed to rival drug gangs and factions vying for control of the various parts of the state.
However, the most vicious and violent faction is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). It is currently run by one of the FBI's Most Wanted men, Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes. There is currently a standing $10 million reward offer for information leading to his arrest.
The cartel itself is also recognized as possibly the most violent of Mexico's many cartels, as it is responsible for beheadings and various murders around the country. They are also reportedly responsible for many mass graves around Mexico, as well as conducting various methods of torture and executions, including acid baths. They regularly abduct and kill rival gang members and any civilian or politician that gets in their way.
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Drug Rehabilitation Centers Are Facing Huge Problems in Mexico
The violence between rival drug gangs often spills into largely underfunded drug rehab centers. According to ABC News, drug addicts and drug pushers who try to flee their rivals take refuge inside drug rehab centers. This often makes these clinics the targets for the attacks themselves.
It is common for cartels to attack these rehabilitation clinics. An example would be an attack that happened in the neighboring state of Guanajuato in 2020. Several gunmen went inside the rehab facility and killed 27 people.
According to The Hill, these attacks are just part of the problem that Mexico is having with its drug rehabilitation centers. Most of these facilities are privately run and are also often underfunded and understaffed. There are also reported abuses by these facilities against recovering drug addicts as well.
It is reported that the Mexican government spends relatively little money on rehabilitation in their ongoing war against drugs. Because of this, poor families often resort to going to unregistered rehabilitation centers, as they would be their only option.
READ MORE: Jalisco Cartel Leader 'El Senoron' Who Receives Orders From Boss 'El Mencho' Arrested in Mexico
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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