A recent shooting at the Ciudad Juarez Airport that resulted in the deaths of two men is believed to be linked to a turf war between human smuggling organizations vying for control over the arrival of migrants heading to the Texas border. Occurring on Friday night at the airport in Ciudad Juarez, a Mexican city bordering El Paso, Texas, the incident involved unknown gunmen targeting two men in separate vehicles. One of the victims attempted to flee but was caught and shot with rifle-caliber bullets by the attackers.
As per El Diario De Juarez, federal law enforcement sources suggest that the violence is part of a turf battle for control of the “airport plaza,” a term used to describe areas utilized by organized crime for illegal activities. The law enforcement sources specifically point to “polleros,” or human smugglers, being responsible for the ongoing conflict.
Breitbart Texas has highlighted how cartel-affiliated human smugglers dictate the movement of migrants, including those seeking asylum, across Mexico and ultimately to the Texas border. In cities like Reynosa, Tamaulipas, cartel agents operate freely at airports and bus stations, where they collect migrants and transport them to safe houses or other locations with minimal interference from Mexican authorities. Additionally, there are reports of corrupt officials from Mexico’s National Migration Institute collaborating with human smugglers by offering permits and specialized services in exchange for payment.
The shooting incident at the Ciudad Juarez Airport underscores the dangers associated with the ongoing turf wars between criminal organizations in the region.
