Indigenous Community Police Under Fire in Mexico's Cartel-Torn Lands

Mexico's Indigenous community police are under increased threat from drug cartels. Authorities reported the killing of seven community police members in Michoacan over the weekend. While these forces enjoy local trust, their limited firepower makes them vulnerable in areas critical for cartel drug smuggling operations.

Indigenous community police in Mexico are increasingly becoming targets for drug cartels, officials revealed on Monday.

Adrián López, the chief prosecutor of Michoacan, reported that seven community police members were gunned down by cartel gunmen in the town of Coahuayana over the weekend, marking a deadly escalation of violence.

Days earlier, seven officers from another Indigenous community police force were kidnapped and subjected to brutal conditions before being freed, underscoring the growing perils faced by these local defenders.

(With inputs from agencies.)