Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Captain Solo]

Hospital Fear Drives Deaths Within Mexico.

By Natalie Kitroeff and Paulina Villegas Aug. 10,2020 Updated 9:02 am ET.

MEXICO CITY — A gray Suzuki stopped outside the General Hospital of Mexico and deposited a heaving Victor Bailóand at the entrance. He had refused to come to the hospital for days, convinced that doctors were killing coronavirus patients. By the time he hobbled into the triage area and collapsed on the floor, it was too late.

"Papito, breathe!" his wife screamed. "Please breathe. ".

Within an hour, Mr. Bailóand was dead.

Mexico is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world, with more than 52,000 confirmed deaths, the third-highest toll of the pandemic. And its struggle has been made even harder by a pervasive phenomenon: a deeply rooted fear of hospitals.

The problem has long plagued nations overwhelmed by unfamiliar diseases. During the Ebola epidemic in 2014, many in Sierra Leone believed that hospitals had become hopeless death traps, leading sick people to stay home and inadvertently spread the disease to their families and neighbors.

Here in Mexico, a similar vicious cycle is taking place. As the pandemic crushes an already weak health care system, with bodies piling up in refrigerated trucks, many Mexicans see the Covid ward as a place where only death awaits — to be avoided at all cost.

The consequences, doctors, nurses and health ministers say, are severe. Mexicans are waiting to seek medical care until their cases are so bad that doctors can do little to help them. Thousands are dying before ever seeing the inside of a hospital, government data show, succumbing to the virus in taxis on the way there or in sickbeds at home.

Fighting infections at home may not only spread the disease more widely, epidemiologists say, but it also hides the true toll of the epidemic because an untold number of people die without ever being tested — and officially counted — as coronavirus victims.

Many Mexicans say they have good reason to be wary of hospitals: Nearly 40 percent of people hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus in Mexico City, the epicenter of the nation's outbreak, end up dying, government data show, a high mortality rate even when compared with some of the worst coronavirus hot spots worldwide. During the peak of the pandemic in New York City, less than 25 percent of coronavirus patients died in hospitals, studies have estimated.

While the statistic may be imprecise because of limited testing, doctors and researchers confirmed that a startling number of people are dying in Mexico's hospitals.

During a surge of cases in May, almost half of all Covid-19 deaths in Mexico City hospitals occurred within 12 hours of the patient's being admitted, said Dr. Oliva López Arellano, Mexico City's health minister.

In the United States, people who died typically made it five days in the hospital.

Doctors say more patients would survive if they sought help earlier. Delaying treatment, they argue, simply leads to more deaths in hospitals — which then generates even more fear of hospitals.

The distrust is so pronounced that relatives of patients in Ecatepec, a municipality outside Mexico City, stormed a hospital in May, attacking its employees, filming themselves next to bags of corpses and telling reporters that the institution was killing their loved ones.

"After seeing videos of what happens to people inside hospitals, screw that," said Mr. Bailóand's brother, José Eduardo, who had recently spent 60 days at home recovering from his own about with what he believes was the coronavirus. "I'the rather stay home and die there."

But many people who die at home in Mexico — or even on the way to the hospital — are never tested for the virus, so they are not counted as coronavirus victims. Instead, they fall into a statistical black hole of fatalities that are not officially tied to the pandemic.

Even by the official count, Mexico has already suffered more coronavirus deaths than any other nation but the United States and Brazil. And the government said recently that during a period of over three months this spring, there were 71,000 more deaths than expected, compared with previous years — an indication that the virus has claimed many more lives than the official tally suggests.

Adding to the confusion, political leaders here, as in many countries, have sown doubts about the virus and the need to seek medical care. The hugely popular president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said he uses religious amulets and his clean conscience to protect against the coronavirus, and he has advocated fighting the pandemic at home, with the help of families, rather than in hospitals.

Nearly 70 percent of Mexicans said they would feel "unsafe" taking their loved ones to the hospital during the pandemic, in a survey published last month. A third said they would prefer to care for their relatives themselves.

Now the nation's top health officials have begun pleading with Mexicans to stop resisting medical care.

"It's very important that late care doesn't contribute to death," Hugo López-Gatell, the health official leading the country's response to the virus, said at a news conference last month. "Please, go to hospitals early, especially people who are most at risk."

Many are wary of the costs that come with a hospital stay. And in a country plagued by rampant government corruption, the fundamental distrust of the authorities often extends to doctors and nurses in public hospitals.

At the General Hospital in Mexico City, where Mr. Bailón died, suspicion was running high. No one had wanted to come to the hospital, a place that seemed to swallow their loved ones and leave them outside, with few updates to calm the nerves. Everyone had a theory about the real cause of the virus and the destruction it had unleashed.

Modesto Gómez, whose wife was inside, heard the government was letting elderly people die of the virus because they had expensive pensions. Héctor Mauricio Ortega, whose father was intubated there with a Covid infection, said he believed doctors were purposely infecting people with the virus "because countries have a quota of people who need to die every year."

Raúl Pérez woke up in a panic on the benches outside the entrance. It was his 16th day sleeping there after his sister went in for brain surgery.

He said he had met seven families of patients who had come in for another illness and then died of the coronavirus.

"People think maybe they're injecting them with something or killing them in there," he said.

Mr. Pérez didn't believe the rumors at first, but then doctors told him that his sister, who was still intubated after her brain surgery, had tested positive for coronavirus. Now he was frantic, calling all of his relatives, telling them the hospital wanted his sister dead.

"They are letting people get infected," he said. "They just want to get rid of one more patient. ".

Dr. López, Mexico City's health minister, said that rumors of malicious medical practices had been widespread. Doctors were supposedly stealing the fluid from people's knees, or trading their fingerprint data gleaned from oximeter readings.

Dr. Ernesto Nepomuceno said that in his clinic in Iztapalapa, a poor neighborhood in Mexico City, doctors perform oximeter readings on themselves to show patients that they are measuring oxygen levels, not recording personal data.

"We have to make great efforts to put people at ease," Dr. Nepomuceno said.

Two days before Mr. Bailón was wheeled into the General Hospital's intensive care unit, he visited a doctor in his tiny hometown an hour outside the capital. His oxygen levels were low, but he begged his wife, Fabiola Palma Rodríguez, not to drive him to the hospital.

"Please don't take me there, I don't want to die," she recalled him telling her. By the time Mr. Bailóand relented, he was already ravaged by the disease.

After a local hospital turned him away, he made the trip to Mexico City. He died on a stretcher in the General Hospital, Ms. Palma said, before doctors could intubate him.

"I would have taken him earlier, but we were both too scared," Ms. Palma said. "It is so unfair. I took him there alive and brought him back home dead the same day."

Aurora Arzate Nieves died on the same day as Mr. Bailóand, in the same hospital, about 30 hours after being admitted. The matriarch of a tightly knit Mexican family, Ms. Arzate, 83, was known for her green mole dish and strong will. Her sons practically had to drag her to the hospital.

That decision was tormenting Eduardo Gutiérrez Arzate as he said a final goodbye to his mother, who was zipped into a bag inside a Ford minivan converted into a hearse by a funeral company near the hospital.

Pawing at the window, Mr. Gutiérrez begged his mother to wake up.

"I felt really guilty when I saw her," he said, standing outside the crematory, black smoke billowing overhead.

She was scared of everything having to do with the coronavirus and of hospitals, where she'the be surrounded by "depressed people," instead of by her family.

"I asked her in that moment to forgive me," he said. "I asked her to forgive me for taking her to the hospital. ".

[Dogers69]

Mexico is lawless? Have you seen the shit going on in Portland? I'm not sure I'd feel that much more unsafe in Acapulco than southside Chicago. If any city in Mexico were to have as many shootings over a holiday as Chicago did during this 4th of July weekend (79 shot with 15 killed including children), the media hype would be insane. We as Americans should really focus on cleaning up our own backyard before we go knocking on our neighbor's door.

Mexico has most of the most dangerous cities in the world. It is lawless. There's two governments neither has full control.

The federal government and the cartels. In 20 30 years it may just be the cartel without federal government but the cartels not going away. And USA is a violent place if you compare it to many countries. And its Democrat leaders are doing their best to turn it into a lawless prison less sister of mexico. We will catch up to Mexico but that's not what this forum is about.

[LuvMexicanas]

In the last 5 years, gang wars, murders, violence, extortion, tourists kidnapping and torturing have stopped the flow of tourists to Acapulco. Even cruise ships were afraid to release their cruise passengers. Youtube has many reports and interviews of hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist-related businesses who were crying over the death of their businesses. Videos show beautiful resorts and fancy restaurants completely empty of clients.

Even without revenues, the cartels still tax and shakedown business owners, big and small, for protection money. A lot, if not most, businesses just shut down due to losses and violent threats by the cartels. There was a taxi driver who made no money because of absence or tourists. He was shot to death for failing to pay the cartel. This scenario is happening all over Mexico besides Acapulco.

It was a punch AMLO's face in his visit to Jalisco when the JNGC circulated videos showing off its army with heavy weapons. It shows Mexico is lawless, the government is weaker and has surrendered to the brutal rules of the gangs.

Mexico is lawless? Have you seen the shit going on in Portland? I'm not sure I'd feel that much more unsafe in Acapulco than southside Chicago. If any city in Mexico were to have as many shootings over a holiday as Chicago did during this 4th of July weekend (79 shot with 15 killed including children), the media hype would be insane. We as Americans should really focus on cleaning up our own backyard before we go knocking on our neighbor's door.

[ClamSlammer]

every business owner, gets a gun to his face and told to either hand over the business, or run the business a s hand over most of the profits. Everyone from a simple taxi driver, or avocado farmer to bar owners restaurant owners...

Yup, every single business owner gets a gun to his face. All 12,000 taxi drivers to every single kid running a limonada stand in the corner.

I know Mexican senior citizens who had the gun in their face, right in Tijuana and tld to sell the apartment hand over proceeds in a week, and they followed orders.

You don't. If you're going to make up shit, at least make it. 000001% believable. Even if it was true, you really think it takes only a week to pre-approved, apply for and get final approval by the bank for a loan, deposits, appraisal, building inspections, title research, title insurance, escrow and closing. In a week? LOL.

It's {murders} just dudes who bumped shoulders in the deli, dudes who look like someone else that someone else may be looking for.

"Bumping shoulders in the deli" has become the new #1 homicide motive in NYC, overtaking robbery, revenge, drug reprisals, spousal retribution.

[Captain Solo]

In the last 5 years, gang wars, murders, violence, extortion, tourists kidnapping and torturing have stopped the flow of tourists to Acapulco. Even cruise ships were afraid to release their cruise passengers. Youtube has many reports and interviews of hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist-related businesses who were crying over the death of their businesses. Videos show beautiful resorts and fancy restaurants completely empty of clients.

Even without revenues, the cartels still tax and shakedown business owners, big and small, for protection money. A lot, if not most, businesses just shut down due to losses and violent threats by the cartels. There was a taxi driver who made no money because of absence or tourists. He was shot to death for failing to pay the cartel. This scenario is happening all over Mexico besides Acapulco.

It was a punch AMLO's face in his visit to Jalisco when the JNGC circulated videos showing off its army with heavy weapons. It shows Mexico is lawless, the government is weaker and has surrendered to the brutal rules of the gangs.

[Dogers69]

I read the news in Mexico too, and yeah every business owner, gets a gun to his face and told to either hand over the business, or run the business a s hand over most of the profits. Everyone from a simple taxi driver, or avocado farmer to bar owners restaurant owners, I know Mexican senior citizens who had the gun in their face, right in Tijuana and tld to sell the apartment hand over proceeds in a week, and they followed orders because, like you said, their is really no law and order. Once you empty jails and prisons, essentially everything is legal. Its happened in NYC right now murders are becoming more interesting to read about than Tijuana. They aren't even money motivated. It's just dudes who bumped shoulders in the deli, dudes who look like someone else that someone else may be looking for, everyone's carrying guns now in NYC because the police were told to stand down by AOC and her people like cuomo and the mayor who follow her orders. USA is definitely trending more towards mexico chaos, so, that's why I don't criticize Mexico much because, we will be right there in a few months or 2 years.

[Captain Solo]

A wingman, who moved out of the country and is happily married, still monitors situation in Mexico and sent me this LA Times news article.

The Mexican cartels have extorted businesses and mass murdered lots of innocent people. Looks like most older kids in Guerrero left homes and joined the cartels. Vigilantes groups have not much resources left and had to conscript children as young as 6, purportedly to defend themselves and their neighborhoods. When their government is lazy, corrupt, irresponsible and unresponsive, Mexicans have the right to defend themselves and their livelihoods against violent gangs.

Another bro just PMed me how escorts operators in Cabo all quit their business in the last few years, most likely due to high taxes and risks of kidnap, torture, murder by the cartels.

This is how broken, corrupt, violent and lawless Mexico is. Mexico is clearly a failed state and is a big risk to the security of the US. And protesters in US want to defund Police? They should move to Mexico to live their lawless lives with the violent cartels and a weak, corrupt government.

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation...afted-to-fight#text=World%20%26%20 Nation-,Children%20 as%20 young%20 as%206%20 are%20 taking%20 up%20 arms%20 in, are%20 as%20 young%20 as%206. &text=In%20 a%20 lawless%20 stretch%20 of, up%20 arms%20 against%20 organized%20 crime.

Children as young as 6 are taking up arms in Mexico.

Nineteen children were conscripted into a vigilante group that for years has been battling drug gangs in Mexico's Guerrero state. The recruits are as young as 6.

By Kate Linthicum staff writer JAN. 23,20205:31 PM.

MEXICO CITY — In a lawless stretch of western Mexico, children as young as 6 are taking up arms against organized crime.

This week, 19 children were conscripted into a vigilante group that for years has been battling drug gangs in restive Guerrero state. Images published by local journalists of the initiation ceremony — in which uniformed, rifle-wielding boys performed military-style maneuvers — drew outrage across Mexico, with human rights officials condemning the exercise as child abuse.

A leader of the vigilante group said in a phone interview Thursday that an increase in violence in the region and the absence of government intervention have left the community with no choice but to arm even its children.

"They must be prepared," said Bernardino Sanchez Luna, who founded the self-defense group known as the CRAC-PF. "If they are afraid, the criminals will kill them like little chickens. ".

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Two of the children who were trained were 6, Sanchez said. The oldest member of the group was 15.

Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan, Chin, Wednesday, Jan. 22,2020. Pharmacies in Wuhan are restricting customers to buying one mask at a time amid high demand and worries over an outbreak of a new coronavirus. The number of cases of the new virus has risen over 400 in China and the death toll to 9, Chinese health authorities said Wednesday. (AP Photo / Dake Kang).

World & Nation.

Fear spreads throughout China as officials take unprecedented measure to stop coronavirus.

Jan. 23,2020.

Over the last seven years, dozens of "community police" forces have emerged in Guerrero, laying claim to a constitutionally protected right that allows indigenous groups in the state to create systems of self-governance.

They say they are defending themselves against local criminal gangs that control drug smuggling routes and extort money from businesses in the region. Critics claim the vigilantes are frequently involved in criminal activity.

Sanchez said his group, which patrols the rural highlands east of the city of Chilpancingo, decided to begin training children in self-defense after the Jan. 17 killing of a group of indigenous musicians.

The 10 musicians were returning from a performance in two vans when assailants struck in the town of Chilapa, according to state prosecutors. The musicians were stabbed and their vehicles and bodies set on fire.

In a news conference Wednesday, Guerrero's attorney general said the state is pursuing six suspects who belong to a criminal group named LOS Ardillos. The group has been accused of other attacks in the region, where a drop in poppy prices in recent years has left criminals scrambling for non-drug-related sources of income.

After the musicians were killed, residents responded angrily, blocking roads and demanding that the government intervene. They were particularly upset about the death of the youngest band member, who was 15, Sanchez said.

When it comes to violence in the region, "nobody, not even a child, is off-limits," he said.

The Oct. 16 Ramona Community Wildfire Safety Preparedness night is being presented by the Ramona Fire Safe Council / Ramona West End Fire Safe Council in collaboration with Cal Fire, the Ramona Community Planning Group and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Above, a Coulson Aviation see-130 drops retardant on a fire.

World & Nation.

3 USA Firefighters killed in Australia air crash amid Bush fires are identified.

Jan. 23,2020.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was elected in 2018 on a promise to combat crime by giving poor Mexicans better economic opportunities.

That strategy, which he dubbed "hugs, not bullets," has so far been unsuccessful, with the country reporting more than 35,000 homicides last year.

Asked about the child soldiers in Guerrero, Lopez Obrador questioned whether the vigilante group that had recruited them was a legitimate self-defense organization and then returned to his security strategy, which he said will make it so young people don't have to take up arms.

"I insist, we're going to move forward," he said at his daily news conference Thursday. "We have to give options to children, to young people, to keep them away from weapons, keep them away from the violence, and that's what's being done."

Child police.

On Wednesday, 19 children were inducted into a vigilante group that for years has been battling drug gangs in restive Guerrero state. (Cuartoscuro).

Mexican Security Secretary Alfonso Durazo said Thursday that the government would "review" whether the CRAC-PF should be allowed to continue bearing arms, especially in light of its recruitment of children.

"Not all of them have a legitimate origin or a legitimate purpose," he said of Guerrero's community police groups.

Human rights officials across the country condemned the enlistment of young vigilante soldiers.

[Captain Solo]

I have an account with a major bank with a debit card which I have not used for over a year, last time use was in Johor Baru, Malaysia on Mar 1, 2019.

This month someone in Texas used that card to buy a few $100 orders from Pizza Hut. The bank did not suspect the frauds until they tried to charge $140 for a room at Marriott Inn in Beaumont, TX, then they rejected it. The hotel probably asked to see ID and it did not match with the name on the card. Damn.

Looks like the bank's data was hacked. You don't have to use your cards for them to be cloned. I am pissed off at this stupid bank and will close the account. American Express seems to be a lot more alert on fraud charges. They even picked out $5 frauds and alerted me. Then you can talk to the call-center honeys in Manilla hehe.

[ScatManDoo]

A quick google search had stories of gringos in cars getting robbed on line going back by policia. Policia told them they were being robbed to save time and argument LOL. Need to hide that cash. They took one guys work tools. I nEver have much on me anyway it's not really a concern of mine.

They are just part of Mexico's newest tourist slogan:

What you bring to Mexico, stays in Mexico.

[Dogers69]

A quick google search had stories of gringos in cars getting robbed on line going back by policia. Policia told them they were being robbed to save time and argument LOL. Need to hide that cash. They took one guys work tools. I nEver have much on me anyway it's not really a concern of mine.

[Hargow20]

In recent years rises in crime have had little effect on the crime rate in the Zona. This is because the gangs view the Zona as off limits for the most part. The other reason is because there is so many police, military private security in the Zona as well. The ratero activity and police corruption is the thing to watch out for. It is important however keep aware of crime trends. When the crime is rising this when there is more potential problems.

This is pure speculation on my part. And I say this not to fear monger. Because I do not think there will be a significant uptick in crimes against foreigners. But the cartel violence is escalating. The anti-government sentiment is growing. Hell, I see as many death to AMLO posters hanging on the walls and poles as I do death to Trump posters. LOL But I do wonder at what point this bubbles over and Tijuana (and other locales) become overrun by the cartel wars.

[Dcrist0527]

El Mencho was based in Tijuana for quite a few years, I think he lived out in Playas.

This is pure speculation on my part. And I say this not to fear monger. Because I do not think there will be a significant uptick in crimes against foreigners. But the cartel violence is escalating. The anti-government sentiment is growing. Hell, I see as many death to AMLO posters hanging on the walls and poles as I do death to Trump posters. LOL But I do wonder at what point this bubbles over and Tijuana (and other locales) become overrun by the cartel wars.

[Jinxx]

As AMLO was visiting Jalisco this week, El Mencho's CJNG cartel released a video showing its powerful army with dozens guys in camo uniform, automatic weapons and armored vehicles.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9626246.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-5ncgWCZLQ

Looks like CJNG was trying to intimidate AMLO into backing off from prosecuting them. When Mexican army apprehended Chapo's son, Ovideo, last year, Sinaloa cartel mounted massive military operation, blocking roads, burning cars. AMLO backed down, personally ordered the release of the prisoner.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Mexican drug cartel shows off uniformed troops with military weapons and armoured vehicles in video.

'Propaganda video' comes as Mexican president visits criminal group's heartland.

Conrad Duncan at theconradduncan.

Mexico's top security official has said authorities are investigating a video which showed dozens of uniformed troops with military-grade weapons and armoured pickup trucks apparently connected to a major drug cartel.

The video, which circulated on social media on Friday, appeared to be a show of power by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) - one of Mexico's most powerful criminal groups.

Alfonso Durazo, secretary of security and civilian protection, said the "propaganda video" was being analysed to confirm its authenticity.

He added that "there is no criminal group with the capacity to successfully challenge the federal security forces".

Many of the vehicles parked on a dirt road in the video have improvised gun turrets or plate-steel armour welded onto them.

Fearing 'losing ground' to cartels during pandemic, US sends military.

Several dozen masked men, wearing bulletproof vests and wielding assault rifles, are also heard shouting they are "people of Mencho" - a nickname used by Jalisco New Generation Cartel head Nemesio Oseguera.

The release of the video coincided with a visit by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico's president, to the group's heartland.

Mr Lopez Obrador has favoured a less confrontational approach to security than his predecessors and supported measures to address social issues, such as poverty and unemployment, which he has argued contribute to crime.

The so-called "hugs, not bullets" strategy has been controversial and some security analysts have warned it has emboldened criminal groups.

"They are sending a clear message. That they basically rule Mexico, not Lopez Obrador," Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, told Reuters.

Mr Vigil warned the president's approach had "only led these cartels to operate with more impunity".

Falko Ernst, a senior analyst on Mexico for the International Crisis Group, said the video sent a clear warning over potential retaliation against the government by the cartel.

"This video, taken yesterday in the Jalisco Sierra as I'm told, is more than clear in its message toward the fed gov: You come after us, and we will strike back," Mr Ernst wrote on Twitter.

He added: "Rather than a declaration of war, from my perspective it's primarily geared at guarding the status quo, at a crucial time where the fed gov has to define its future posture regarding the CJNG. ".

CJNG is regarded as Mexico's strongest gang, along with the Sinaloa Cartel formerly led by jailed drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

In late June, the cartel was quickly identified as the probable culprit in an attack on Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico City's security head, which took place in broad daylight in a wealthy neighbourhood in the capital.

El Mencho was based in Tijuana for quite a few years, I think he lived out in Playas.

[Captain Solo]

As AMLO was visiting Jalisco this week, El Mencho's CJNG cartel released a video showing its powerful army with dozens guys in camo uniform, automatic weapons and armored vehicles.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9626246.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-5ncgWCZLQ

Looks like CJNG was trying to intimidate AMLO into backing off from prosecuting them. When Mexican army apprehended Chapo's son, Ovideo, last year, Sinaloa cartel mounted massive military operation, blocking roads, burning cars. AMLO backed down, personally ordered the release of the prisoner.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Mexican drug cartel shows off uniformed troops with military weapons and armoured vehicles in video.

'Propaganda video' comes as Mexican president visits criminal group's heartland.

Conrad Duncan at theconradduncan.

Mexico's top security official has said authorities are investigating a video which showed dozens of uniformed troops with military-grade weapons and armoured pickup trucks apparently connected to a major drug cartel.

The video, which circulated on social media on Friday, appeared to be a show of power by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) - one of Mexico's most powerful criminal groups.

Alfonso Durazo, secretary of security and civilian protection, said the "propaganda video" was being analysed to confirm its authenticity.

He added that "there is no criminal group with the capacity to successfully challenge the federal security forces".

Many of the vehicles parked on a dirt road in the video have improvised gun turrets or plate-steel armour welded onto them.

Fearing 'losing ground' to cartels during pandemic, US sends military.

Several dozen masked men, wearing bulletproof vests and wielding assault rifles, are also heard shouting they are "people of Mencho" - a nickname used by Jalisco New Generation Cartel head Nemesio Oseguera.

The release of the video coincided with a visit by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico's president, to the group's heartland.

Mr Lopez Obrador has favoured a less confrontational approach to security than his predecessors and supported measures to address social issues, such as poverty and unemployment, which he has argued contribute to crime.

The so-called "hugs, not bullets" strategy has been controversial and some security analysts have warned it has emboldened criminal groups.

"They are sending a clear message. That they basically rule Mexico, not Lopez Obrador," Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, told Reuters.

Mr Vigil warned the president's approach had "only led these cartels to operate with more impunity".

Falko Ernst, a senior analyst on Mexico for the International Crisis Group, said the video sent a clear warning over potential retaliation against the government by the cartel.

"This video, taken yesterday in the Jalisco Sierra as I'm told, is more than clear in its message toward the fed gov: You come after us, and we will strike back," Mr Ernst wrote on Twitter.

He added: "Rather than a declaration of war, from my perspective it's primarily geared at guarding the status quo, at a crucial time where the fed gov has to define its future posture regarding the CJNG. ".

CJNG is regarded as Mexico's strongest gang, along with the Sinaloa Cartel formerly led by jailed drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

In late June, the cartel was quickly identified as the probable culprit in an attack on Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico City's security head, which took place in broad daylight in a wealthy neighbourhood in the capital.

[MemoeNasty]

When I stayed there the security guard wouldn't let me stand in front waiting for uber at noon. He said your gona get attacked. Although I had gone for walks in the area to get tacos but it didn't feel safe. You walk in that area you better be ready to give up phone and wallet immediately any hesitation and it's a problem.

Getting robbed at noon in front of this motel might be fear mongering. You wouldn't have a problem during the day in that stretch but at night it's pretty quiet, dark and not much up there. There used to be a really cool bar with an attached hotel and restaurant but it closed about 5 years ago. Also, about a block or two down is where the T girls hang out. Most are aggressive and obnoxious. I also wouldn't be walking to and from velario too drunk after dark. Moe.