MEXICO CITY — On Friday, gunmen in Mexico took the life of a rear admiral, marking one of the most significant losses of a high-ranking military officer in the country in the last decade.
The navy confirmed that the shooting occurred in Manzanillo, a port city on the Pacific coast. The local media identified the victim as Fernando Guerrero Alcántar, but this has not been officially verified by a navy representative, who also refrained from commenting on whether the admiral was in uniform at the time of the incident.
The navy reported that the admiral was traveling in his personal vehicle during the attack, leaving questions about whether the assailants recognized him.
This admiral’s death stands out as one of the highest-profile instances of military casualties in Mexico since 2013, when Vice Adm. Carlos Miguel Salazar, who held a superior rank, was ambushed and killed by gunmen in Michoacan. This incident was attributed to the Knights Templar drug cartel operating in the region.
Although attacks on high-ranking officers by drug cartels have occurred, such events are considered uncommon.
In recent years, Mexico’s government has increasingly entrusted law enforcement duties to the navy, military, and the militarized National Guard, positioning these entities as essential forces in combating drug trafficking organizations across the nation.
Manzanillo is particularly attractive to drug cartels due to its status as a key Pacific port receiving direct shipments from countries like China and other Asian nations, which facilitates the smuggling of precursor chemicals used in the production of the dangerous opioid fentanyl.