Mexican Vigilantes Battling Cartel Seize Town From Knights Templar, Arrest Police

Mexican vigilantes battling drug cartels have seized a town from the Knights Templar gang and arrested police as traitors.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, members of a drug cartel stormed a Mexican jail, resulting in deaths and a prison riot.

The Knights Templar drug cartel originated as meth dealers out of the larger group called La Familia. The Mexicans state of Michoacan is almost controlled by this gang, ruling through fear and violence. Anyone who dares speak out against them is murdered, tortured, and/or raped. Since 2006, it’s been estimated that around 70,000 people have died due to the drug violence.

The fight against the Knights Templar started with Mexican vigilantes starting so-called “self-defense squads” in order to combat the cartel. During 2013, these squads have successfully pushed the cartel out of several large towns and other smaller villages. But progress has been slow since these armed militia groups have to patrol any seized territory in order to prevent the cartels from taking them back over.

Mexican vigilantes under the name Tepalcatepec, or community force, took 100 vehicles of armed men into the town of Nueva Italia. After a “light confrontation” they seized the city. In the town of Paracuaro, 300 militia men were needed and now they surround much of the area around Apatzingan, which is the headquarters of the Knights Templar. The local boss of the drug cartel is known only as “the Toucan” and it’s believed the militias are planning an assault soon.

What’s considered controversial is how the Mexican vigilantes arrested police, accusing them of being traitors working for the cartels. Federal troops have apparently been watching these events but haven’t taken action, although the Mexican state attorney general has requested additional troops in order to ensure “tranquility and security.” But opponents of the Mexican vigilantes accuse the militias of working secretly with the New Generation Jalisco cartel, who are the main competitors of the Knights Templar.