Mayor of Juchitán, Oaxaca, arrested over alleged CJNG ties, triggering blockades and protests

On September 23, 2026, federal and state security forces arrested the mayor of Juchitán, Oaxaca, Miguel Sánchez Altamirano, along with another individual known as "La Parca." The arrests were made in connection with allegations of aggravated extortion and crimes against state security. The operation, part of the federal security strategy "Operativo Enjambre," was carried out to combat collusion between organized crime and municipal officials.

Both men were linked to a criminal group called Los Cromos, which is alleged to be tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Sánchez Altamirano, who had been mayor of Juchitán since late 2022, is accused of participating in and covering up criminal activities in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The arrests triggered road blockades and protests in Juchitán, where residents blocked main roads and set tires on fire to demand the release of the mayor.