SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE CONFIRMS FINDING GUARDSMAN DEAD IN GUERRERO AFTER VIRAL VIDEO

The Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA) officially addressed an ongoing investigation following the circulation of a video recording on digital platforms. The official communication confirmed that an active element belonging to the National Guard was located without life alongside three other citizens in the community of Plan de Lima, located within the municipality of Juan R. Escudero, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Official details indicate that the officer was off duty and on scheduled leave inside his native state when the event occurred.

The security situation in the area prompted an immediate response from inter-institutional forces. Federal authorities confirmed that initial operational deployments in the region were reinforced with 284 tactical personnel, two aircraft, and 36 ground vehicles. Military authorities stated that a larger contingent is scheduled to arrive in the region in the coming days, remaining deployed until those responsible for the violence are apprehended and processed through the judicial system.

Joint operational actions carried out on September 5 by military personnel, National Guard elements, the state Attorney General's Office, and State Police produced immediate results in the communities of Pablo Galeana, Río Verde, and Xaltianguis, situated within the municipality of Acapulco, Guerrero. During these coordinated maneuvers, law enforcement forces achieved the arrest of 16 individuals linked to the criminal group known as "Los Ardillos," including an individual identified by authorities as a key financial operator.

Seizures reported during the recent Acapulco operations include:

• 16 individuals arrested (including a financial operator)
• 12 firearms
• More than 36,700 rounds of ammunition
• 17 doses of methamphetamine (crystal)
• 10 slot machines
• 2 motorcycles
• 1 vehicle

Regarding institutional security efforts across the state, defense officials emphasized that law enforcement agencies have intensified intelligence, investigation, and territorial presence. According to official figures, state and federal institutions have carried out actions without distinction against local criminal organizations operating in Guerrero, explicitly naming groups such as "Los Tlacos," "Los Rusos," and "Los Ardillos."

"The Secretariat of National Defense strongly condemns these acts of violence and reiterates its commitment to working closely with civil authorities in the investigations to clarify the facts, including the circumstances related to the statements broadcast on social networks," the official statement noted.

Accumulate official statistics for the current administration in Guerrero reflect significant operational activity, including 1,850 arrests, 1,035 firearms seized, 140,049 cartridges confiscated, 39 hand grenades secured, 18.9 tons of illicit drugs intercepted, 6 illegal laboratories dismantled, 1,428 vehicles impounded, and 10 slot machines seized. The Secretariat expressed formal condolences to the family of the fallen National Guard member, committing to continuous institutional support throughout the legal process.