Armed Men and Clash with Mexican Soldiers on Highway, Resulting in Major Weapon Seizures

A shootout between Mexican soldiers and armed civilians on a Mexican highway just south of the Texas border has resulted in significant weapons seizures, including three vehicles and 31 high-caliber ones.

The incident took place when several armed men were spotted while traveling in multiple vehicles. According to Chihuahua state police, members of Mexico's National Guard intercepted the convoy, leading to a firefight that left one civilian wounded. The 25-year-old civilian man was taken to a hospital in Juarez, where he remains in custody.

Mexican law enforcement seized three pickups, two of which were armored, alongside an array of firearms: four AK-47 rifles, 14 AR-15s, a Barrett .50-caliber rifle, a submachine gun, and 11 handguns. according to the Border Report. Authorities also confiscated nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as tactical and bulletproof vests.

National Guard vehicles were still on site after the incident, monitoring the area. The recently updated highway is designed to facilitate traffic, particularly cargo trucks, entering Juarez from the south and routing them to nearby farming communities and the Marcelino Serna Port of Entry in Tornillo, Texas.

Despite the upgrades, some truckers have expressed concerns about using the highway, citing drug cartel activity in the El Valle de Juarez region. Local reports indicate at least 11 murders in the area since May 2023, including a violent rolling gun battle that claimed four lives.

In response to recent violence, El Paso County Commissioner Precinct 2 David Stout emphasized that all levels of government in Mexico are working to improve safety along the highway. He mentioned that the road is equipped with security cameras and limited access points to deter criminal activity. The private contractor responsible for the highway has also hired security patrols.

The region around Juárez and El Paso is primarily influenced by two major drug cartels that compete for control of trafficking routes: the Juárez Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. The Juárez Cartel has long been a dominant force in Ciudad Juárez, historically controlling drug trafficking routes into the United States. On the other hand, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of the most powerful and influential drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. The cartel has split in two warring factions that have been vying for control over the past weeks.

In this context, Mexican law enforcement officials in the border state of Chihuahua continue to observe a significant number of potential gang members passing through the area en route to the U.S. Authorities believe these individuals are affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan-born criminal organization, which is utilizing the El Paso-Juárez corridor to enter the United States illegally.