Cartel gunmen killed a young woman after she publicly denounced her drug trafficking activities and the complicit Mexican officials involved this week.
The case took place in Colima, where Brenda Rios was a member of the Mezcales, a breakaway faction of Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG). In recent days, authorities found Rios’ body in a bathroom where she and a male victim had been shot execution-style.
Government documents reveal that Rios was listed as missing since October 21, 2022, when authorities issued an Alba Alert. The Mexican system is akin to an Amber Alert but for adult women believed to be in danger.
Weeks after Rios was reported missing, videos and social media posts began to appear of Brenda “La More” Rios identifying members of Los Mezcales and allied government officials. The woman also gave the locations of cartel hideouts and kill sites.
“The reality is that I had to withdraw from Colima. I’m not in Colima, they can’t find me in Colima,” Rios said in a video explaining her reason for leaving Los Mezcales. “They killed many innocent people.”
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