Deadly Drug Cartel Roadway Bombs Claim Lives of Police Officers and Civilians in Mexico

A drug cartel in Mexico planted seven roadway bombs in western Mexico, killing four police officers and two civilians. The blasts, which left craters in the road and destroyed vehicles, were described as a trap for law enforcement personnel escorting volunteers to a supposed mass grave. This marks the first time a Mexican cartel has used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to kill law enforcement. The incident highlights the increasingly open and military-style challenge posed by drug cartels in the country. The governor of Jalisco state temporarily suspended police escorts for volunteer searches and called the attack a brutal terror act. The area around Guadalajara has seen previous battles between factions of the Jalisco cartel, known for its use of IEDs and bomb-dropping drones.