Police massacre in CJNG territory highlights Mexico’s spiralling cartel violenceLast updated: June 11, 2026 | 09:081 MIN READA Mexican state police vehicle drives past a funeral of members of a Mexican self-defense group after an attack by alleged members of Los Ardillos drug cartel in Alcozacan, Guerrero state, Mexico on May 20, 2026.AFPFive Mexican police officers were shot dead and five others wounded Wednesday in violence-hit Michoacan state on the eve of the World Cup opener in Mexico City, local authorities said.The officers were attacked by unknown assailants in an Indigenous region of the western state, which is plagued by cartel violence, the state government reported.Also In This PackageThe pickup truck they were traveling in was riddled with bullet holes, according to images obtained by AFP.The attack took place in the municipality of Nahuatzen, a region inhabited by the Purepecha people where the powerful Jalisco New Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operates.In May, the brazen murder of a small-city mayor, allegedly by the CJNG, prompted angry protests targeting symbols of the state, which many residents accused of failing to combat spiralling violence.Michoacan's capital Morelia is situated around 300 kilometers from both Mexico City and fellow World Cup host city Guadalajara.The state's security department said police were searching for the perpetrators of Wednesday's attack.Mexico's government insists that there is no security threat to visiting World Cup fans.Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and the United States.Get Updates on Topics You Choose