Just a day after the funeral of Hipolito Mora, a prominent leader against drug cartel violence, the city of Apatzingan, Mexico, became a scene of renewed conflict. Gunfire and roadblocks erupted on Sunday, highlighting the persistent struggle against organized crime in the region.

Cartel gunmen commandeered trucks and buses, forcing drivers to obstruct roads leading in and out of Apatzingan. One driver, speaking anonymously out of fear, recounted being ordered to park his truck across the road under threat of arson.

Within the city, a family was carjacked by armed individuals who then used the stolen vehicle to fatally shoot another driver. The victim's car, still containing his body, was left precariously positioned on a bridge. A friend of the deceased attributed the killing to the Jalisco cartel, despite the Viagras cartel's long-standing dominance in Apatzingan.

This theory is not unfounded. The Jalisco cartel, originating from the neighboring state, has been engaged in a protracted campaign to infiltrate Michoacan. The roadblocks may have been a defensive measure by the Viagras cartel against a potential Jalisco incursion.

The current battleground lies along the ironically named Rio Grande, a small river south of Apatzingan. Residents of the riverside village of Las Bateas were forced to evacuate their homes approximately a month ago due to intense gunfights between the Jalisco and Viagras cartels. Jalisco gunmen have crossed the river in an attempt to seize territory on the southern outskirts of Apatzingan. Returning residents describe sheltering in their homes amidst the crossfire.

The Mexican government has deployed army and National Guard reinforcements, seemingly aiming to contain the Jalisco cartel's advance while tacitly tolerating the Viagras cartel's presence. While residents report a temporary increase in safety, the situation remains volatile and unsustainable.

The Viagras cartel's systematic extortion has significantly inflated prices in Apatzingan. Basic goods are considerably more expensive than in other parts of Mexico, further burdening the region's struggling economy. This extortion, coupled with direct demands for protection money from farmers, ranchers, and businesses, is gradually crippling the agricultural sector.

Hipolito Mora dedicated his life to fighting this very issue. His death, along with two of his followers, has effectively extinguished hopes of reviving a civilian resistance against the cartels. While some grieving relatives discussed reigniting the armed farmers' movement that briefly ousted a cartel in 2013-2014, many doubt the feasibility of such an endeavor. Mora's sister, Olivia, tearfully acknowledged her brother's commitment to his community, expressing doubt that anyone else would possess the same courage.