Overview
- Authorities carried out 14 simultaneous searches in the Oaxaca metro area on Thursday, August 27, and arrested nine people believed to be part of a cell linked to ASAEO.
- More than 300 federal and state personnel from FGEO, SEMAR, SSPC, SEDENA, the National Guard, state police and C5i took part in the raids and seized firearms at several sites.
- Officials say the detainees include organization leaders and a municipal education councilor and that some suspects were flown by the Mexican Air Force to federal detention centers.
- The investigations being built by state and federal prosecutors focus on alleged extortion, cobro de piso (protection rackets), despojo (land or property seizure) and narcomenudeo, with related lines of inquiry mentioning sicariato and homicide.
- Reports from 2026 cited repeated complaints by merchants and service providers about forced payments of up to 8,000 pesos and harassment, and authorities say the current operation aims to address those public safety harms while legal processes continue.