Eighteen Persons Killed in Juárez Over the Weekend

State Police Headquarters Attacked by Gunfire Once Again in Juárez

State Police Officer Killed Last Night in Chihuahua City 

No Word of Tourist Missing in Urique:  the search continues

New Federal Prosecutor for Chihuahua State Sworn into Office Yesterday

From multiple news sources:  During the past few weeks there have been several incidences of attacks on state police facilities, and a few on municipal police in Juárez.  Gunmen have fired at state police installations of various occasions, wounding persons inside, or they have fired on state patrol cars.  This happened again last night in Juarez.  In Chihuahua a state police officer assigned to protective services for the banking sector was shot and killed last night as well.  

A wave of violence swept over Juárez over the weekend, leaving  a toll of 18 dead.  Police have indicated they believe these deaths can be attributed both to executions by La Linea, a major cartel in Juárez that ships illegal drugs to El Paso, and to feuds between retail traffickers of drugs for the local market in Juárez.  Three persons were arrested yesterday in Juárez in connection with this weekend's killings.

The frequency of attacks on state police throughout Chihuahua state has led to the resignation or abandonment of their jobs of many state police officers in recent weeks.

Multiple accusations that the State Security Commission has been seriously compromised by internal corruption have also put pressure on state police, have drawn widespread attention to the impunity with which drug cartels operate in Chihuahua state.

Meanwhile, a man believed to be a chief operations officer for the Sinaloa Cartel (also known as the Pacific Cartl) was arrested yesterday by federal police in Puebla.  Luis Enrique Gamboa Sosa, a.k.a "El Muletas" is believed to have been the logistical coordinator for the Nuevo Cartel del Tigre, an armed enforcer in Chihuahua for the Sinaloa Cartel. The organization is thought to have been created by disgruntled officers of La Linea, the armed enforcer for the Juárez cartel.

 Ramon Ernesto Badillo Aguilar was sworn into office in Juarez, in a very private ceremony yesterday, as the new federal delegate to Chihuahua State, headquartered in Juarez.  He is known for having handled the kidnapping case of two sons of Chapo Guzman a couple of years ago in Puerto Vallarta.  Chapo himself, from a jail cell, is reputed to have threatened to kill members of the Jalisco Cartel and his sons were released two weeks later. They now are said to be in control of Chapo's empire, the Sinaloa Cartel, and appear to be openly enjoying the fabulous wealth their father accumulated..  Chapo's trial in the US began this week.

Badillo is an experienced hand as a federal prosecutor dealing with drug cartels, having held this position in Puebla.  The PGR delegate to each state is equivalent to the position of U.S. Attorney in the United States.  New Mexico's U.S. Attorney is headquartered in Albuquerque.  Chihuahua state is ranked 28th (index score of .27 out of possible 100) in "rule of law and security" among the 33 states in Mexico by the prestigious World Justice Project.  Guerrero, the lowest ranking state in Mexico, has an index score of .19.  (click here for more information about the WJP in Mexico)