Mexico: Infamous Familia Michoacana Cartel Kidnaps 14 Residents of Village That Stood Up to Them and Killed 10 Cartel Members

An act of defiance from villagers in Mexico against the notorious Familia Michoacana Cartel has led to retaliation from the infamous criminal organization as gunmen kidnapped 14 of the town's residents, including four children.

Tired of their frequent extortions at the hands of the cartel, farmers in the village of Texcaltitlan and a neighboring hamlet rose and fought back against Familia Michoacana, killing 10 of its members. The incident was caught on video and earned the residents praise for standing up to the cartel that has been bullying its residents.

Mexico City prosecutors stated that the cartel abducted 14 people, including four children between the ages of 1 1/2 and 14. They also abducted three policemen and a wounded villager they abducted from a hospital. Said villager was hospitalized after the clash that killed the 10 Familia Michoacana Cartel members.

According to the Associated Press, the number of villagers abducted reflects the number of people killed during that deadly clash, which means it was a symbolic warning to the villagers not to cross the infamous cartel. Aside from the 10 cartel members who were killed, four villagers also died as a result of that fatal clash.

Mexico State Head Prosecutor Jose Luis Cervantes stated that so far, the cartel has not yet issued any ransom. However, residents of the village stated that the Familia Michoacana is already demanding that the villagers hand over the leaders of the uprising.

Villagers Not Charged Over the Killings of 10 Familia Michoacana Cartel Members in Mexico

When a group of gunmen came to the village of Texcaltitlan, they tried extorting the farmers for money. However, the farmers rose up and clashed with them, resulting in 10 of the cartel members being killed.

Usually, such an act would result in the farmers getting arrested and imprisoned for murder. However, Mexico State Head Prosecutor Jose Luis Cervantes noted that the farmers' rising up to the cartel was a legitimate example of self-defense and, therefore, they will not be prosecuted.

The prosecutor noted that the case is classified as "legitimate self-defense" because the farmers were defending their properties from a criminal organization that has long dominated the area where the village is located.

Familia Michoacana Leader Among Those Killed When Mexico Villagers Stood Up Against Them

Officials in Mexico State, where the incident occurred, reported that one of the cartel's most notorious leaders was among the 10 members killed in the clash. He was identified as Rigoberto de la Sancha Santillán, known as "El Payaso" or "The Clown."

According to VOA News, it is common in Mexico for drug cartels to extort money from almost any licit or illicit business that they can. Those who do not pay up often find their ranches or farms burned down.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed that this happened because previous administrations "never took care of young people. That's why they got pulled in and ended up in criminal ranks. You have to shower them with a lot of love."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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