The regional prosecutor for Tierra Caliente, Víctor Manuel Salas Cuadras, was murdered this Saturday in Coyuca de Catalán.
The prosecutor was an active lieutenant colonel in SEDENA and had two days ago assumed the position of Regional Prosecutor’s Office on instructions from Guerrero State Attorney General, Sandra Luz Valdovinos Salmerón.
Official versions announced that the FGE official was traveling in his white Ford truck on the streets of Coyuca de Catalán where he was intercepted by a group of armed men from La Familia Michoacan (LFM) at around 6:00PM. It is possible he was killed there as bullet holes peppered his truck.
At 11:00 PM, his body was discovered in the El Jaripo community, near the Coyuca de Catalán-Zarándaro federal highway. He had gunshot wounds to his head and body.
Seized LFM Luxury Vehicles
Official versions announced that Víctor Manuel Salas participated in the investigations of 13 vehicles that the FGE secured in a warehouse located in Ciudad Altamirano and that belonged to relatives of the leaders of the La Familia Michoacana that controls the Tierra Caliente region.
The 13 vehicles, including a Lamborghini SUV and a Hummer as well as several classic vehicles, were transferred to the FGE facilities in Chilpancingo and have not yet been claimed by their owners. The trucks were yellow and red: the colors that distinguish the cars of José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, known as El Fresa. The Hummer and luxury cars were black and white: the favorites of Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga, who is nicknamed El Pez.
The seizure of these units caused 8 Mayors, 2 deputies, and a local deputy from the PRI, PRD, and Morena of that region of Tierra Caliente to direct the closure of the routes in that area, creating blockades for three days to demand the departure of the State Prosecutor, Sandra Luz Valdovinos Salmeron.
On August 21, 2023, armed men entered the FGE in Coyuca de Catalán and took away the head of the Public Ministry, Patricia Jaquelín González. She was found alive two days later.
Víctor Manuel Salas arrived on Saturday at the Regional Prosecutor’s Office based in Coyuca de Catalán after being notified that as of September 8, 2023, he would leave the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Tlapa where he held this position since last May.
Months before he had left the Coyuca de Catalán area under military and GN escorts due to threats made on his life.
“It was a mistake that the regional prosecutor (Víctor Manuel Salas) was returned to Tierra Caliente to occupy this same position,” said a source.
