The past 10 days have seen dramatic stories coming out of Mexico of major assaults on police by the notorious La Familia Michoacana gang — one of the country’s deadliest “Narco” drug trafficking and terror groups.
Indeed, in one brazen attack, 12 police officers were mulilated, killed and dumped by the road earlier this month; La Familia members attacked another police station with grenades, while yet another assualt saw police officers ambushed when responding to a traffic accident.
Now it turns out that the deadly attackers are unlikely Mexican Robin Hoods — or so they claim — insisting their beef is with federal Mexican police and not local townspeople. Moreover, La Familia members insist they themselves are pure as the powder they peddle throughout North America — shunning drug use, caring for their kids and communities and embracing devout Evangelical Christian beliefs.
They even have their own bible — authored by the gang’s spiritual leader Nazario Moreno, alias El Mas Loco, or “The Maddest One” — a copy of which was seized by Federal officials during a raid last year.
It’s all part of La Familia’s ongoing power surge throughout Western Mexico — which has Mexican anti-drug officers very concerned.
Part of that power lies in La Familia’s influence in local communities — where they say they employ thousands of village folk paying them up to $2,000 each per month.
Within these towns, violence, robbery or kidnapping is forbidden by La Familia leaders — though they themselves can attack at will those who go against their credos.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon is taking a tough stance with La Familia — refusing to negotiate with their leaders and sending thousands of additional troops to quell the narcos’ power.
But La Familia’s unusual embrace of religion, gang warfare and narco business tactics clearly make them a scourge Mexico can no longer ignore.