Michoacán, Mexico. 2021

In an attempt to curb the advance of narco-trafficking in the territories of Michoacán, indigenous people and small farmers in the state took over the matter into their own hands.

Since 2013 more than 40 groups of armed men and women were organized to patrol Michoacán, building up to 20K armed citizens that fight a constant war with the cartels (mainly Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación).

These groups are divided in two categories, ‘Policia Comunitaria’ (formed by indigenous people and recognized by the Mexican State) and ‘Autodefensa’ (paramilitary without an ethnic component, articulated by local charismatic figures).