Where is la familia michoacana

Other inner divisions were present within the executive council, which was formerly headed by Moreno. Each regional cell reportedly enjoyed a degree of autonomy.

While one branch would be dedicated to methamphetamine production, another would extract extortion payments, while another would be made up of hitmen, and so on.

As the Familia Michoacana's name indicates, the group had its base and origins in Michoacan, in particular the mountainous Sierra Madre del Sur. The Familia's powerbase was located in the seven municipalities that make up "Tierra Caliente" in southwest Michoacan, about miles from the U. After working with the Zetas to overthrow the traditional Michoacan trafficking family, the Valencias, the Familia announced it was working on its own by tossing several severed heads into a nightclub in , an incident that made international news.

It later allied with the Sinaloa and Gulf Cartels to fight its progenitors, the Zetas , and to expand into new territory along the U. The Familia also had an infamous ability to corrupt local government officials, in part due to massive profits from methamphetamine production.

In the early s, the Familia would become involved in a bitter conflict with successor group the Knights Templar. We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article.

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Two new books aim to reorient understanding of the foundations of drug policy: the first a nuanced exploration of the…. InSight Crime was a proud supporter of this year's Global Investigative Journalism Conference, which took place November 1 through November 5 and convened nearly 2, journalists….

InSight Crime was delighted to support investigative reporting in the Americas through a workshop with our friends at Connectas, a non-profit journalism initiative that facilitates collaboration…. Thank you for your message. History Michoacan has long been home to drug traffickers and drug production, with areas where mostly poorer farmers cultivate marijuana and poppy, the raw material for heroin.

Leadership Currently, Hector Garcia, alias "El Player," is believed to control the Familia Michoacana operations in Guerrero and the state of Mexico, although it is unclear how much power the criminal group currently posesses.

Geography As the Familia Michoacana's name indicates, the group had its base and origins in Michoacan, in particular the mountainous Sierra Madre del Sur. Allies and Enemies After working with the Zetas to overthrow the traditional Michoacan trafficking family, the Valencias, the Familia announced it was working on its own by tossing several severed heads into a nightclub in , an incident that made international news.

Special limited time offer to qualified returning subscribers. Profile Notifications Sign Out. Mexico, U. Summary U. The operation suggests the group's network extends farther than previously thought. Still, the group's limited geography and previous arrests of high-level LFM officials signal trouble for the group. LFM is one of the most violent and ambitious criminal organizations in Mexico, but also one of the smallest.

This kind of operation is thus sure to have a serious impact on LFM's operations both at home and abroad, especially as Mexican authorities have been stepping up operations against the group in its home state of Michoacan. LFM was formed more than 20 years ago as a vigilante group aimed at kidnappers, drug traffickers and other criminals operating in the southern Mexican state of Michoacan.

As the years passed, LFM itself became involved in the drug trade, particularly in methamphetamine trafficking. The group later formed an alliance with the Gulf cartel and came under the control of Los Zetas.

LFM, as it is currently known, formed in after several of the groups' leaders split from Los Zetas. Since then, LFM has developed a reputation as one of the most strange and violent drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico due to the purportedly Christian-based teachings of its ideological leader, known as El Mas Loco, who advocates the torture and murder of LFM opponents as a representation of divine justice.

Though largely involved in the production of synthetic drugs, LFM also traffics cocaine and heroin. It also earns significant income from kidnapping, extortion and a number of other criminal activities. In April , forty men ambushed the armored convoy of public safety chief, Minerva Bautista, killing four people and injuring nine.

In early August, Bautista resigned, though it is unclear if she was forced out or voluntarily left due to safety concerns.

Recently, La Familia and its former ally-turned-rival, the Gulf organization, are once again working together, this time joining forces to combat Los Zetas, with who both previously shared alliances.

It is believed that La Familia has pledged to send some of its members into the northeastern border state of Tamaulipas, formerly the uncontested territory of the Gulf organization, to assist in the fight to exterminate the Zetas. The U. Department of Justice fact sheet on La Familia, please click here.