An intense police mobilization took place between Thursday and Friday along the border between Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua (Mexico) and El Paso, Texas (USA) following reports of armed attacks against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, local authorities confirmed today.
According to information from the Secretariat of Municipal Public Security(SSPM), individuals attempting to cross illegally into U.S. territory were responsible for the mobilization: “There were some calls where we heard some detonations with the border patrol and now there is an operation at marker 5, we are working together with the border patrol to see what happened,” said César Omar Muñóz, Secretary of Public Security.
Operations on both sides of the border
Following the aggression, Municipal Police, Mexican Army and National Guard agents were deployed at various points along the border.
On the U.S. side, CBP activated reinforced security protocols with ground and air patrols.
On the U.S. side, there were reports of arrests.
On the Mexican side, police officers requested a search warrant to enter a house where the perpetrators were allegedly hiding.
The event comes amidst border tensions marked by recent U.S. warnings of a possible increase in violence in the region.
As well as increased operations by both governments to contain human and drug trafficking, with the presence of helicopters and tactical vehicles on the wall that divides the two countries.
Border violence remains stable
“Ciudad Juarez, or the northern part of the country, has been a victim of violence that has to do with human trafficking, drug trafficking, smuggling, among other things.”
“But it is a level of violence that has remained at stable levels. I don’t see that it has worsened,” commented Oscar Maynez Grijalva, professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez.
In previous weeks, detonations and chases linked to migrant smuggling were reported.
In addition to a case in which a gunshot was reported coming from the U.S. side, still under investigation.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
