On February 5, 2024, in Chilpancingo, a city located in the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico, four bus and taxi drivers were fatally shot by unidentified assailants in a series of orchestrated attacks.
Guerrero has become a contested area amid rival drug cartels in recent years. These criminal organizations often demand “protection” fees from local businesses, including those in the transportation industry.
A wave of discontent rose in January as transport workers in Acapulco and Taxco, another city in Guerrero, stopped working to protest against the continual killings of their colleagues.
An investigation into the recent murders has been initiated by state prosecutors, supported by the army and National Guard to enhance security in the troubled city. Details about the victims’ occupations in the transport sector are still limited, but it is believed that at least two were operators of minivans who were attacked while in their vehicles.
Across Guerrero, transport workers are caught in a relentless cycle of extortion and violence, with some being forced to work for the very gangs that jeopardize their jobs.
Despite the extensive military and National Guard presence aimed at stabilizing the region, the risk to drivers continues undiminished.
In late January, the historical city of Taxco saw a suspension of transport services as drivers went on strike in response to gang threats, leading to police transporting civilians in patrol vehicles.
The transport sector in Acapulco has also suffered, with threats from gangs leading to nearly 90% of the city’s passenger vans ceasing operations earlier in the year.
Acapulco has been embroiled in gang conflict since 2006, with rival factions fighting for control over drug trafficking routes and extortion schemes targeting local businesses and transport operators.
The violence is not just limited to buses and taxis; truck drivers have also been increasingly targeted. Reports of violent highway robberies have led the Mexican-American Federation of Truck Drivers and other industry groups to demand action. Criminal gangs have intensified their activities, not only hijacking trucks for their cargo but also murdering drivers and breaking down vehicles for parts.
While a planned protest on a major highway outside Mexico City was avoided following promises of dialogue with federal officials, the danger to transport workers remains a critical issue.
Despite its picturesque coastal resorts and historic towns, Guerrero continues to grapple with the dual challenges of natural disasters and organized crime.