TUXTLA GUTIÉRREZ, Chiapas. A day of violence broke out today on several stretches of highway in the Fraylesca region of Chiapas, where alleged members of organized crime set vehicles on fire to block access, in apparent response to security operations implemented by the state government.
The incidents occurred in an area where Juan Manuel Valdovinos Mendoza, identified as the alleged local leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has been reported to have been involved.
The State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of the People of Chiapas briefly reported that a joint operation with the three levels of government was deployed since early morning in the municipalities of Jiquipilas, Cintalapa, and Arriaga.
Since Sunday, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which has two machine guns as fixed armament and the capability to use anti-missile tactical flares, has conducted reconnaissance overflights in the area.
Residents of the region reported searches of ranches and private properties. Faced with the escalating violence and insecurity on the roads, educational authorities decided to suspend classes to safeguard the safety of students and teachers. The Ocozocoautla-Las Choapas Highway, a highway connecting Chiapas with Veracruz, was closed, according to the Federal Roads and Bridges Department.
Narco-blockades were reported at strategic points on the roads connecting Jiquipilas, Ocozocoautla, Arriaga, Cintalapa, and Villaflores. In the latter town, videos posted on social media show at least eight vehicles set on fire near the area known as La Mazorca; even a truck was placed across the road to block it.
Security sources confirmed that the armed men acted in a coordinated manner, using tire-punching tools to stop cars, forcing drivers to get out, and then setting fire to the vehicles in an attempt to disrupt traffic and slow the advance of patrol cars.
According to unofficial information, the acts of violence were triggered after security forces began raids in the municipalities of Cintalapa and Jiquipilas, considered operational strongholds of the alleged criminal group.
Authorities urged the public and motorists traveling through the Fraylesca region to exercise extreme caution and avoid the area if possible.
Who is the boss they are looking for?
Juan Manuel Valdovinos Mendoza, known as “The Lord of the Horses,” is identified by authorities as one of the main leaders of organized crime in Chiapas. He is linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), where he allegedly serves as a regional operator. Valdovinos Mendoza is accused of crimes including extortion, kidnapping, armed mobilization, and clashes with security forces in various municipalities across the state.
Original article by Gabriela Coutiño, Proceso, October 13, 2025.
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.