Suspicion and mistrust between the security forces of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí have reigned since the weekend at the border between the two states. The agents of the Immediate Reaction Force of Zacatecas (Friz) accuse the policemen of the Civil Guard of San Luis Potosí of having participated in a multiple murder, after the former found seven bodies and, a few meters away, a patrol car with blood stains. The Secretary of Public Security of the State of San Luis Potosí, Jesús Juárez Hernández, reported that four of his agents are detained and that they are collaborating with the authorities in Zacatecas to “determine the degree of participation of state officials” in the crime.
The dispute began last Sunday, when an operation by the Public Security Secretariat of Zacatecas found seven bodies at the border with San Luis Potosí, as reported by the Secretary General of the State, Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza. “A few meters away, a vehicle with blood stains was located, on board which were four probable perpetrators who were arrested and who, presumably, were elements belonging to the Civil Guard of the State of San Luis Potosí,” said the owner.
However, the Secretary of Public Security of the State of San Luis Potosí assured that the four detained officers had gone to the place to carry out their duty after receiving a report of citizens asking for help in that place through a call to emergency services. “A video shows the actions of the Zacatecas authorities, who decided to arrest four Potosí officers after allegedly detecting irregularities,” Jesús Juárez Hernández explained in a statement. The images show how their officers were in an unmarked truck, were also wearing tactical clothing and had no official uniform. The secretary defended his officers and “absolutely” denied any wrongdoing by the detained San Luis Potosí police officers.
Juárez Hernández stressed that there is no interruption in security coordination with the Zacatecas authorities. Both states share hundreds of kilometers of border disputed by organized crime and frequented by drug and human traffickers. “We will have to continue to collaborate until the truth is known and the degree of participation of state officials in these events which continue to be deplorable is determined”, underlined the Secretary of Security of San Luis Potosí, who underlines the need to continue to collaborate with the Zacatecan authorities to clarify the circumstances of the crime and “clarify favorably to our elements, who have our support”.
