For a map, click here.
By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
A total of six armed suspects were killed in a firefight with a Mexican Army unit in Veracruz state Friday night, according to Mexican news reports.
A report which appeared on the website of Milenio news daily said that the gunfight was initiated when armed suspects travelling aboard a GMC Sierra pickup truck were signalled by an army road patrol to stop. Instead the suspects opened fire on the military unit. Army return fire killed six suspects.
The firefight took place on a road between the villages of Tamarindo and Cardel in Puente Nacional municipality. The location is said to be close to Xalapa, the state capital of Veracruz.
Weapons and munitions seized in the aftermath include four rifles, six hand grenades and weapons magazines.
The army unit, part of the VI Military Region was operating as part of the Seguro Veracruz, a security program which was originally initiated during the administration of former president Felipe Calderon. It is one of four similar programs still in operation as a legacy of the previous administration. Only one security program, Seguro Laguna has been cancelled, although a similar program is in informal operation in that area.
The Milenio report included information from the VI Military Zone as to its activities since the start of the year. Army units in support of Seguro Veracruz program has detained 11 unidentified individuals and seized 15 rifles, 11 handguns, 48 weapons magazines and 1,142 rounds of ammunition.
According to a statement included in the report by General de Division Diplomado de Estado Mayor Rene Carlos Aguilar Paez, a total of 10 armed suspects have been killed in gunfights with the military since January 1st.
Seguro Veracruz also includes units of Mexican naval infantry.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com.