Vigilantes take control of drugs town

Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico are working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Feb 2014, 00:00 BST

Dozens of vigilante group members, who wore white T-shirts to identify themselves, sped into Apatzingan over the weekend in the back of pickup trucks.

The city of 100,000 in Michoacan state has been under effective control of the Knights Templar cartel for several years.

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“Federal forces are working with self-defence groups,” vigilante leader Hipolito Mora saied. “Guys from the self-defence groups are moving around the city, co-operating in certain ways with the federal government. Many, many people have been detained.”

Mr Mora said federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the “self-defence” movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts.

He said approximately 200 gang members were arrested, including the brother of one of its leaders, Enrique “Kiki” Plancarte.

Related topics:Mexico