An improvised land mine believed to have been planted by a drug cartel resulted in the tragic deaths of two Mexican soldiers and left five others wounded, as confirmed by Mexico's defense secretary. General Ricardo Trevilla disclosed that the army has experienced six fatalities due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) between 2018 and 2024. The nature of these incidents, whether caused by drone-dropped bombs or buried roadside explosives, was not explicitly specified.
Describing the devices as 'very rustic,' Trevilla likened them to buried pipe bombs, emphasizing their crude and dangerous nature. The recent attack in the western state of Michoacan, where the two soldiers lost their lives, hinted at a potential drug cartel booby trap scenario.
The soldiers were dispatched to investigate reports of an armed encampment in a rural area. Upon approaching the suspected site, they encountered obstacles and had to proceed on foot. Tragically, as they neared what appeared to be an abandoned encampment, a buried explosive device detonated, causing casualties among the troops.
Attributing the attack to the United Cartels, a coalition that includes the local Viagras gang, Trevilla underscored the ongoing violent clashes between rival cartels in Michoacan. The region has witnessed a militarized conflict characterized by the use of various tactics such as roadside bombs, trenches, fortified positions, makeshift armored vehicles, and sniper rifles.
Notably, the Mexican army had previously acknowledged instances of soldiers falling victim to bomb-dropping drones operated by drug cartels. While roadside bombs have been more prevalent in such encounters, the evolving tactics employed by cartels pose significant threats to military and law enforcement personnel.
In a detailed report from August 2023, the defense department revealed that a total of 42 individuals, including soldiers, police officers, and suspects, had sustained injuries from IEDs in the first seven and a half months of that year, marking a substantial increase from the previous year's figures.
