Tabasco authorities reported the arrest of four alleged members of a criminal cell related to extortion of merchants and various violent acts recorded in the entity, including attacks against meat sales establishments.

Among those detained is a man identified as the alleged plaza boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), identified by the authorities as one of the main generators of violence in the region.

This criminal, identified only as “Kilos”, was sentenced in 2018 in the United States to 39 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to smuggle firearms and ammunition into Mexico, according to the weekly Proceso.

The State Attorney General's Office (FGE) indicated that those captured would be linked to a network dedicated to collecting extortion from local merchants and businessmen.

According to investigations, the group used threats and acts of violence to force its victims to make periodic payments.

The authorities also link them to a series of executions that occurred in butcher shops in Tabasco, attacks that would have been motivated by the owners' refusal to pay the fees demanded by the criminal organization.

The capture was carried out through a coordinated operation between state and federal security corporations.

The Prosecutor's Office indicated that investigations continue to determine the participation of the detainees in other criminal acts registered in the state, and to identify possible additional members of the criminal cell.