On Nov. 3, the Mexican government sent the military to take over security at one of the country's most important ports: Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan state. In addition, due to complaints of collusion, the military disarmed the Lazaro Cardenas municipal police and submitted them and select customs officials to background checks and training. The military's deployment is part of a larger trend unfolding over the past year in which the federal government is becoming increasingly concerned with instability in the western state of Michoacan and its effect on the critical infrastructure vital to the country's economy.
As many as 1 million Michoacan residents were left without electricity for several hours Oct. 27 after gunmen attacked several facilities belonging to the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (commonly known by its Spanish acronym, CFE) in addition to several Petroleos Mexicanos gasoline stations. Among the facilities attacked were electric substations providing residents and businesses in their respective areas with power. Aside from attacks on military, law enforcement and politicians, Mexican organized crime has generally avoided directly targeting government-owned infrastructure thus far. For this reason, the Oct. 27 attack is very troubling for Mexico City. It signals that crime groups in Michoacan are willing and able to attack economic infrastructure.
Insecurity has been a persistent issue in Michoacan, but intercartel violence and the proliferation of community vigilante groups have aggravated existing problems. The specific intent behind the attacks on CFE's facilities remains unknown, but it is clear now that important infrastructure is not off limits. Shortly after the attacks, the government intervened in Lazaro Cardenas to show its control and prevent the spread of violence to the all-important trade hub.
