Zihuatanejo families flee homes amid organized crime threats

Families in the Sierra de Zihuatanejo de Azueta region have fled their homes, crops, and livestock due to ongoing threats from organized crime. More than 50 families from communities including San Ignacio, Pie de la Cuesta, El Puentecito, El Mamey, and La Vainilla abandoned their properties following two weeks of intense criminal harassment.

The violence is attributed to the criminal group known as ‘Las Cuatro Letras,’ which has been active in the area since 2021. Residents reported that the situation escalated after the group attempted forced recruitment. Despite the deployment of the Army and National Guard, victims stated that security measures were insufficient to prevent the exodus. Displaced residents have criticized local and state authorities for failing to provide aid or shelter.

In a separate political development, Carlos Quintana Martínez, President of the State Steering Committee of the PAN, criticized the Morena administration for the perceived neglect of the Mexican agricultural sector. He argued that a lack of subsidies, high input costs, and insufficient technological modernization have left farmers struggling to survive.