Gunmen from the Cartel del Noreste and military clash in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

Alleged members of the Cartel del Noreste clashed on the afternoon of this Saturday, August 17, with military personnel in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.

The Tamaulipas Security Spokesperson reported on its Facebook account that they were responding to a report of gunshots on Federal Highway 2, near El Estero.

“Authorities respond to a report of gunshots on Federal Highway 2 near El Estero in Nuevo Laredo. Take extreme precautions,” says the alert message from the authorities on their Facebook account.

Unofficial information states that hitmen from the Cartel del Noreste, who were aboard about 15 trucks, shot a group of soldiers in the area of ​​the Arboledas Subdivision and the La Unión neighborhood.

Because of this aggression, the military personnel repelled the attack and began a confrontation that extended to different parts of the municipality.

The noise of the high-powered weapons used in this shootout was recorded in several videos by people who captured the moment of the confrontation.

The reports, which have not yet been confirmed by the authorities, refer that the hitmen abandoned their trucks while fleeing on foot to go into some properties and hide from the military.

The shootings extended to the sectors of Colosio Boulevard, the Highway to Piedras Negras and around the Airport, among others. Due to these events, the state of Coahuila reported that it sealed its borders to prevent criminals from entering the state.

According to the newspaper Milenio, Federico Fernández Montañez detailed that together with the Navy and the state police they activated the protocol to reinforce security in the area of ​​the state.

In this operation, armed units and security elements were deployed in the municipalities of Hidalgo and Salinillas.

Meanwhile, in Nuevo Laredo it was revealed that during the clashes between the military and criminals, the leader of a cell of the Cartel del Noreste identified as “Ricky 35” was killed. It is unknown if he was killed or arrested. At the time of this note, this information has not been confirmed by the authorities.

The violence in the border city caused Femsa to announce in July that 191 of its Oxxo stores and 7 of its gas stations would remain closed due to security problems in the region.

Femsa argued, at first, that the reason for the closure was due to an alleged expiration of the contract with the software provider, used for inventory operations, collection and other services. However, as the hours passed they confirmed that it was due to the insecurity conditions.

Roberto Campa, director of Corporate Affairs for the company Fomento Económico Mexicano (Femsa), told the newspaper La Jornada that the decision to close all Oxxo branches was due to the conditions that criminal groups have imposed on his company’s employees.

According to Campa, the conditions imposed have ranged from buying gasoline from certain distributors, imposing service hours, and even price variations. He also reported that some of his employees were detained to demand “information for different purposes.”

After a meeting with local and federal authorities, the company announced that “significant agreements have been reached to guarantee the safety conditions of our employees.”

“We announce the resumption of our operations in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, starting today, Friday, August 2.” As part of the agreements between both parties, it was agreed that constant patrols will be carried out in stores and gas stations.

Source: infobae