After the riots in San Cristóbal de las Casas, in Chiapas, the authorities managed to arrest a dozen alleged members of Los Motonetos, a criminal group that is related to drug dealing activities and homicides.
Preliminary reports indicated that on the morning of Sunday, July 30, several shots were heard on Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Ejército Nacional streets, located in the Barrio de Guadalupe. Although some reports indicate that the firearm detonations began at 9:00 a.m., others mention that they began at 5:00 a.m.
The shots caused by an alleged family dispute, caused residents of the area to notify the local authorities so that order could be restored immediately. This is how elements of the Municipal Police moved to the scene to corroborate what happened.
In the videos shared on social networks, you can see a group of subjects -some on motorcycles- running through one of the streets of the city, while being chased by the uniformed officers. The tension was such that a civilian woman, who was recording what happened, began to pray for fear that the conflict would intensify.
In a second clip, several gunshots are heard. Because a woman, who was with a minor, was recording what was happening outside her home, one of the subjects yelled at her to stop recording to prevent her from being later identified by the authorities.
While the officers carried out surveillance tours in the area, a call was made to the public to take the necessary precautions and remain sheltered in their homes until the situation was under control.
Subsequently, the Chiapas Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection reported the arrest of 12 people related to these violent acts, as well as the seizure of 10 motorcycles, a car and a firearm.
The detainees were identified as Carlos “N”, Christian “N”, Víctor Manuel “N”, Samuel “N”, Francisco “N”, Sergio “N”, Enrique “N”, Alex “N”, José “N ”, Daniel “N”, Silvano “N” and Francisco “N”, who “starred in a fight” in the Guadalupe neighborhood that left two people injured by firearm impacts.
Hours later, the State Prosecutor’s Office reported the arrest of five other people due to the riots in San Cristóbal de las Casas, bringing the number of detainees to 17. However, their identities were not released.
Los Motonetos, also known as “motogandilleros”, are a criminal group dedicated to drug dealing, kidnapping and homicide, which has its operations center in San Cristóbal de las Casas, where they have sown terror among the inhabitants.
It is presumed that this gang is also used to generate conflicts or pressure local and state governments to release a detainee. According to Insight Crime reports, its members recruit members of indigenous communities.
The name of this group is because its operators travel on motorcycles and scooters. Regularly one is the driver and the other in the back seat (the latter is the one who carries a firearm most of the time).
In September 2021, they were accused of the death of a six-year-old girl in the streets of San Cristóbal de las Casas, in addition to carrying out armed attacks against the municipal police headquarters, as happened in December of that same year, when they demanded the release of three of his companions.
Although there are no reports that prove that Los Motonetos have forged alliances with larger criminal organizations, that does not imply that they do not work “by contract” for criminal groups with greater operating capacity.
Source: Infobae
