Mexican Forces Kill Alleged Chiapas-Guatemala Cartel Leader 'Don Balde' in Cross-Border Operation

Authorities in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas carried out an operation that resulted in the death of Baldemar Calderón Carrillo, the alleged leader of the Chiapas-Guatemala Cartel and a logistics and financial coordinator for the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

Calderón Carrillo, also known as "El Tío Balde" or "Don Balde," was believed to be one of the founders of the Chiapas-Guatemala Cartel, a group that emerged as a regional offshoot of CJNG along the Mexico-Guatemala border.

According to the Chiapas Attorney General's Office, the operation began in the municipality of Frontera Comalapa. However, during the confrontation, state forces crossed into Guatemalan territory.

Members of the Immediate Reaction Force Pakal, known as "Pakales," were reportedly met there with gunfire from alleged cartel members.

Witnesses told local press that the shootout lasted about two hours. Following the operation, Chiapas Gov. Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar accused Guatemalan officials of being "colluded" with organized crime in a post on Facebook. Two hours later, Guatemalan Defense Minister Henry Sáenz defended inaction by forces seen in videos of the incident, stating that soldiers chose not to engage in order to avoid civilian casualties.

Chiapas officials confirmed that four people were killed, Calderón Carrillo among them. The other three victims are believed to be Guatemalan nationals, although their identities have not been officially confirmed.

"The other three individuals killed also belonged to the Chiapas-Guatemala Cartel. Among them was alleged plaza chief 'Tío Baldemar,' who had been operating in Guatemala and oversaw logistics and operations in the neighboring country. He was in charge of recruiting the Kaibiles and managing cartel activities in Guatemala. He was killed in this event," said Óscar Aparicio Avendaño, Chiapas' public security secretary.

Aparicio Avendaño said the Chiapas Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into the circumstances that led to the cross-border incursion. Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry later issued a statement on X, expressing regret for entering Guatemalan territory without prior authorization.

Violence in the region has intensified in recent weeks.

Just days before this operation, state police officers were ambushed near the Mexico-Guatemala border. During the attack, civilians surrounded a patrol vehicle armed with high-caliber weapons and grenades. Moments later, the vehicle was set on fire with the officers still inside.

Aparicio Avendaño said the individuals killed in the operation were also involved in a June 2 ambush, which left five state officers dead.

"It was a forceful operation—one that demonstrated the bravery, determination, and training of the Pakales," Aparicio Avendaño said. "As we've said before, we will not be leaving Frontera Comalapa. We will be there permanently."

In response to the recent surge in violence, Gov. Ramírez Aguilar has deployed at least 500 additional troops to the border region to prevent further incursions and potential retaliation from criminal groups.