The recent shooting incident involving American tourists in a Mexican border town was a result of a firefight between rival cartels, according to a report by Border Report. The incident, which occurred on September 9, took place in the town of Miguel Alemán, across the border from Roma, Texas. A group of 15 to 20 tourists, including several Americans, were caught in the crossfire and suffered injuries.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents Roma, stated in an interview with Border Report that the tourists were mistakenly shot at by the cartels. The ongoing conflict between The Northeastern Cartel and CDG Metros, a Gulf Cartel splinter group, is believed to be the cause of the incident. The Northeastern Cartel, known as one of the most dangerous cartels in northern Mexico, emerged as a splinter group from the Zetas Cartel. They are currently vying for territory against other cartels such as the Gulf Cartel, Jalisco Cartel New Generation, Sinaloa Cartel, and other Zetas splinter groups.
CDG Metros, a splinter group from the Gulf Cartel, is also involved in the drug wars in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The Gulf Cartel was once a unified organization but has now fragmented into several factions competing for control over their traditional territory in Tamaulipas. Hugo Salinas Cortinas, one of the leaders of CDG Metros, was arrested in May for his involvement in fentanyl and migrant trafficking operations in Miguel Alemán and Camargo.
Some of the victims of the shooting were taken to hospitals in south Texas, while others received treatment in Monterrey, Mexico. The area where the tourists were shot had been deemed "inadvisable" to be in, especially at night, according to reports. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by the ongoing violence between rival cartels in the region.
