Mexico Cartel Strategic Note No. 37: Milton Morales Figueroa, Key CDMX Law Enforcement Intelligence Official Assassinated in Edomex

Mexico Cartel Strategic Note No. 37: Milton Morales Figueroa, Key CDMX Law Enforcement Intelligence Official Assassinated in Edomex

Daniel Weisz Argomedo, John P. Sullivan, and Robert J. Bunker

On Sunday, 21 July 2024, Milton Morales Figueroa, general coordinator for the tactical strategy and special operations unit of the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana la Ciudad de México (Secretary of Citizen Security of Mexico City) (SSC-CDMX), was assassinated in the municipality of Coacalco, Estado de México (Edomex). Morales Figueroa was a key intelligence official in the fight against organized crime.

Official SSC-CDMX obituary notice for Milton Morales Figueroa

Key Information:  Simeon Tegel, “Mexico City police chief shot dead in ‘drug cartel hit.’” The Telegraph. 22 July 2024, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/22/mexico-city-police-chief-shot-dead-drug-cartel-hit/#?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first:

Mexico City’s head of intelligence and police operations has been gunned down in an apparent drug cartel hit.

Milton Morales Figueroa, 40, is reported to have died instantly in a hail of bullets in the town of Coacalco, just north of the Mexican capital, on a family day out on Sunday.

He was hit at least twice in the head when gunmen jumped out of two SUVs with darkened windows which had suddenly pulled up as the police commander and relatives stopped at a small supermarket in a residential street. Two other people were reportedly injured. One is thought to have been a bodyguard and the other a family member.

Although it is common in Mexico for the drug cartels – who have taken de facto control of large, remote chunks of the country – to target provincial police, attacks on senior officers from the capital remain relatively rare.

Key Information: “Police chief shot dead days after activist, wife and daughter killed in Mexico.” CBS. 22 July 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-chief-killed-mexico-city-indigenous-activist-wife-daughter-killed-oaxaca/:

Mexico City's police operations chief was killed in the capital on Sunday just three days after an Indigenous rights defender and his family were killed in the country, authorities said — the latest in a series of attacks targeting police, activists and politicians across Mexico.

“As a result of a cowardly attack that occurred in Coacalco, Mexico State, my colleague and friend Chief Commissioner Milton Morales Figueroa lost his life,” a local security secretary Pablo Vazquez said on social media, vowing to “identify, arrest and bring those responsible to justice.”

The officer, who was in charge of intelligence operations fighting organized crime, was outside a poultry store when he was accosted by a man who shot him, according to security camera footage.

“Milton was in charge of important investigative tasks to protect the peace and security of the residents of Mexico City,” Mayor Marti Batres wrote on social media.

Key Information: “CDMX intelligence chief murdered while off duty in México state.” Mexico News Daily. 22 July 2024, https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-city-security-official-murdered-while-off-duty/:

A Mexico City security official who was set to take up a position in the federal Security Ministry was shot and murdered while shopping in México state on Sunday.

Milton Morales Figueroa, head of the Mexico City strategy, tactics and special operations unit of the Mexico City Security Ministry (SSC), was murdered outside a chicken shop in Coacalco, a municipality just north of Mexico City.

The 40-year-old official carried out intelligence work at the SSC and was responsible for investigating “high-impact” crimes such as the 2022 attack on well-known journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva.

He worked alongside former Mexico City Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, who was wounded in a 2020 attack allegedly perpetrated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Key Information: “Asesinan al jefe de inteligencia de la Policía de CDMX.” DW (Deutsche Welle). 22 July 2024, https://www.dw.com/es/asesinan-al-jefe-de-inteligencia-de-la-policía-de-cdmx/a-69732466:

El coordinador general de la Unidad de Estrategia Táctica y de Operaciones de la Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC) de la Ciudad de México, Milton Morales Figueroa, fue asesinado con un disparo en la cabeza en el Estado de México, informaron el domingo (21.07.2024) autoridades locales.

El funcionario, que se encargaba de tareas de inteligencia contra la delincuencia organizada, se encontraba en una calle al exterior de un comercio de pollo cuando un hombre se le acercó y lo atacó con un arma de fuego, según imágenes de las cámaras de seguridad de la zona.

“Milton estaba a cargo de importantes tareas de investigación para proteger la tranquilidad y seguridad de los habitantes de la Ciudad de México”, escribió en X el alcalde capitalino Martí Batres.Indicó que las autoridades de la capital trabajan con la fiscalía del vecino Estado de México para detener a los responsables.

En la megaurbe actúan pequeños células dedicadas al narcotráfico y otros delitos como la extorsión y el contrabando, además de que tienen conexión con grandes cárteles de las drogas como el Jalisco Nueva Genración, uno de los más poderosos del país.

Según medios locales, el trabajo de Figueroa contribuyó a desarticular bandas locales y a decomisar importantes cantidades de droga. Distintos jefes policías de estados golpeados por la violencia criminal han sido asesinados en los últimos años.[1]

Key Information: Ximena Arochi, “Se perseguirá a responsables del asesinato del jefe de operaciones especiales de la SSC: Batres.” Proceso. 22 July 2024, https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/cdmx/2024/7/22/se-perseguira-responsables-del-asesinato-del-jefe-de-operaciones-especiales-de-la-ssc-batres-333393.html:

El jefe de Gobierno, Martí Batres, advirtió que perseguirá a los responsables del asesinato del jefe de operaciones especiales de la Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC), Milton Morales Figueroa, ocurrido el 21 de julio, en Coacalco de Berriozábal, Estado de México, a plena luz del día.

Este lunes, el mandatario lamentó el fallecimiento de Milton Morales y detalló que se realizan investigaciones de manera conjunta entre la SSC, la Fiscalía General de Justicia de la Ciudad de México (FGJCDMX), con la Fiscalía y la Secretaría de Seguridad del Estado de México.

Sin embargo, dijo que aún no puede señalar si el atentado provino de un grupo delictivo u otro responsible.[2]

Key Information: Javier Salinas Cesáreo and Laura Gómez Flores, “Asesinan de un balazo al mando de Inteligencia de la policía capitalina.” La Jornada. 22 July 2024, https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2024/07/22/capital/asesinan-de-un-balazo-al-mando-de-inteligencia-de-la-policia-capitalina-1191:

De acuerdo con los primeros reportes policiacos, el coordinador general de la Unidad de Estrategia Táctica y Operaciones Especiales de la SSC, quien se encontraba fuera de servicio con su familia, estaba en un establecimiento de comida, cuando un sujeto se le acercó por la espalda y le disparó a la cabeza.

En un video difundido por redes sociales se observa al comisario en un puesto de pollo ubicado en la calle Agua de la colonia Acuales, en Coacalco, cuando por la espalda es atacado por un sujeto que le dispara y huye, Morales Figueroa, cercano al ex jefe de la policía Omar García Harfuch, cae al piso.

Mandos policiacos y funcionarios también expresaron su solidaridad a la familia del comisario, quien encabezó operativos en busca de desarticular grupos delictivos, como la Unión Tepito, y el decomiso de grandes cantidades de droga, como sucedió en 2022, cuando se incautaron mil 600 kilos de cocaína.

Fuentes capitalinas señalaron que se tienen ubicados dos automotores que dieron seguimiento al mando policiaco cuando viajaba en una camioneta con su familia ayer por la mañana, por lo que equipos de inteligencia fueron desplegados para ubicar a quienes lo asesinaron.[3]

Analysis

On Sunday, 21 July 2024, Milton Morales Figueroa, general coordinator for the tactical strategy and special operations unit of the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana la Ciudad de México (Secretary of Citizen Security of Mexico City) (SSC-CDMX), was assassinated in the municipality of Coacalco which is located in the north of the State of México (Edomex). Figueroa was enjoying his day off with his family when he was gunned down from behind.[4] According to journalist Antonio Nieto, authorities in the state of Mexico have identified six suspicious vehicles that are believed to have been following Morales, including one white VW Virtus, which transported and provided an escape for the assassin.[5] These tactics indicate that the assassination was carefully planned and orchestrated. No arrests have been made, but the vehicles involved in the attack are being investigated and tracked down by police.[6]

Milton Morales began working in 2010 under the Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB) or interior ministry in charge of regional security; five years later, he would become part of the now-defunct Policía Federal (federal police).[7] In 2016, he was named general director of the National Center of Planning, Analysis and Intelligence for combatting organized crime under the now defunct Procuraduría General de la República(PGR). In 2021 Morales received the position of general coordinator for the newly created tactical strategy and special operations unit of the Secretary of Citizen Security in Mexico City.[8] Before his assassination, Morales was expected to work closely with his colleague, Omar García Harfuch, as the secretary for Federal Security in the upcoming administration.[9]

It is vital to understand that Milton Morales was the right-hand man of Omar García Harfuch, who will be the new security minister under upcoming president Claudia Sheinbaum and one of the men responsible for changing how security forces functioned in Mexico City. Morales had known Harfuch since their days back in the federal police and the PGR and had been entrusted by Harfuch with some of the highest profile cases in Mexico, such as the assassination attempt against journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva.[10] Morales was essential in applying Harfuch’s security plan in Mexico City to coordinate all security forces and apply intelligence techniques to strengthen police investigations.[11] The most remarkable change in security was that police in CDMX were given the capacity to investigate and work as detectives. This change is significant for citizens as this means that the old process of having to go to the station to report to have the prosecutor’s office determine if the police could investigate the crime has ended. The old process made police investigations very slow and inefficient, contributing to many non-reported crimes. The new security strategy also took down institutional barriers that separated federal and local crimes, increased the number of cameras in Mexico City from 15,000 to almost 75,000 and provided better training and a 54% increase in salary to police.[12] The new security strategy was successful, and intentional homicides in Mexico City fell by 55%, robberies fell by 31%, and extortion fell by 42% from 2021-2023.[13]

Milton Morales was important for Harfuch and a critical element for the new security strategy that the next Mexican administration will implement. Some journalists like Héctor de Mauleón have interpreted his assassination as a possible message of intimidation to Harfuch who is slated to be the new head of Federal Security.[14] Harfuch himself was targeted in June 2020 by 28 assassins who carried high-power weapons and managed to shoot Harfuch, who fortunately survived the attempt on his life.[15] Investigators believe the attempt on Harfuch can be traced back to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Still, the Cártel de Sinaloa (CDS) has also shown increasing willingness to target government security forces and elected officials.[16] Due to the low-profile Morales kept, his importance for combating organized crime and the apparent sophistication behind the assassination, this incident was not a random act of violence. While the criminal investigation of the assassination is ongoing and is still in its early stages two individuals—a man and a woman—have already been arrested for their purported linkages to the assassination. For whatever reason Milton Morales did not have a security detail protecting him at the time of the targeted incident.[17]

The two supects in Custody Fiscalía General de Justicia de Estado de México (https://x.com/FiscaliaEdomex/status/1817661228346437822)

Conclusion

The assassination of Milton Morales Figueroa is another example of the use of instrumental violence occurring in mexico’s criminal insurgencies.[18] In this case, the assassination of a state official that could inhibit a criminal cartel’s freedom of movement. Such an act is a classic application of what David Kilcullen calls a battle for competitive control.[19] Morales assassination is a discrete example of the chronic narcopolitical power struggles that characterize Mexico’s crime wars.[20]

These bloody episodes are partularly acute during the chage of sexenio electoral cycle, including the post-election transition of power.[21] While the immediate impact of this assassination is unknown, it likely portends a chaotic transition between the presidential administrations as the criminal netwrks seeks to recalibrate thir influence. While the CJNG is a prime suspect, the changes among CDS leadership may also become a factor.[22] Indeed, it is unknown which of these groups is involved in this incident. In any case, the battle between the criminal cartels and the state continues.

Sources

Ximena Arochi, “Se perseguirá a responsables del asesinato del jefe de operaciones especiales de la SSC: Batres.” Proceso. 22 July 2024, https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/cdmx/2024/7/22/se-perseguira-responsables-del-asesinato-del-jefe-de-operaciones-especiales-de-la-ssc-batres-333393.html.

“Asesinan al jefe de inteligencia de la Policía de CDMX.” DW (Deutsche Welle). 22 July 2024, https://www.dw.com/es/asesinan-al-jefe-de-inteligencia-de-la-policía-de-cdmx/a-69732466.

“CDMX intelligence chief murdered while off duty in México state.” Mexico News Daily. 22 July 2024, https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-city-security-official-murdered-while-off-duty/.

“Police chief shot dead days after activist, wife and daughter killed in Mexico.” CBS. 22 July 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-chief-killed-mexico-city-indigenous-activist-wife-daughter-killed-oaxaca/.

Javier Salinas Cesáreo and Laura Gómez Flores, “Asesinan de un balazo al mando de Inteligencia de la policía capitalina.” La Jornada. 22 July 2024, https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2024/07/22/capital/asesinan-de-un-balazo-al-mando-de-inteligencia-de-la-policia-capitalina-1191.

Simeon Tegel, “Mexico City police chief shot dead in ‘drug cartel hit.’” The Telegraph. 22 July 2024, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/22/mexico-city-police-chief-shot-dead-drug-cartel-hit/#?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first.

Endnotes

[1] In English, the title reads: “Mexico City Police Intelligence Chief Assassinated.” The text reads: “The general coordinator of the Tactical Strategy and Operations Unit of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City, Milton Morales Figueroa, was killed with a shot to the head in the State of Mexico, local authorities reported on Sunday (21/7/2024). […] The official, who oversaw intelligence tasks against organized crime, was on a street outside a chicken store when a man approached him and attacked him with a firearm, according to images from security cameras in the area. “Milton was in charge of important investigative tasks to protect the tranquility and security of the inhabitants of Mexico City,” wrote the capital’s mayor Martí Batres in X. He indicated that the authorities of the capital are working with the prosecutor's office of the neighboring State of Mexico to arrest those responsible. […] Small cells dedicated to drug trafficking and other crimes such as extortion as smuggling operate in the megacity, and they also have connections to large drug cartels such as the Jalisco Nueva Genración, one of the most powerful in the country. According to local media, Figueroa’s work helped dismantle local gangs and seize significant quantities of drugs. Several police chiefs in states hit by criminal violence have been murdered in recent years.”

[2] In English, the title reads: “Those responsible for the murder of the head of special operations of the SSC will be pursued: Batres.” The text reads: “The head of Government, Martí Batres, warned that he will pursue those responsible for the murder of the head of special operations of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), Milton Morales Figueroa, which occurred on 21 July, in Coacalco de Berriozábal, State of Mexico, in broad daylight. On Monday, the president lamented the death of Milton Morales and detailed that joint investigations are being carried out between the SSC, the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico City (FGJCDMX), with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Security Secretariat of the State of Mexico. However, he said that he still cannot say whether the attack came from a criminal group or another responsible party.”

[3] In English, the title reads: “Intelligence commander of the capital police shot dead.” The text reads: “According to the first police reports, the general coordinator of the SSC’s Tactical Strategy and Special Operations Unit, who was off duty with his family, was in a food establishment when a subject approached him from behind and shot him in the head. […] In a video posted on social media, the commissioner is seen at a chicken stand located on Agua Street in the Acuales neighborhood, in Coacalco, when he is attacked from behind by a subject who shoots him and flees. Morales Figueroa, close to former police chief Omar García Harfuch, falls to the ground dead. Police commanders and officials also expressed their solidarity with the family of the commissioner, who led operations to dismantle criminal groups, such as the Unión Tepito, and the seizure of large quantities of drugs, as happened in 2022, when 1,600 kilos of cocaine were seized. Capital sources said that two vehicles have been located that followed the police commander when he was traveling in a van with his family yesterday morning, so intelligence teams were deployed to locate those who killed him.”

[4] “Asesinan en plena calle al comisionario Milton Morales Figueroa, pieza clave de la lucha contra el crimen en Ciudad de México.” BBC. 22 July 2024, https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c720djd8l4qo.

[5] Anayeli Tapia Sandoval, “Así fue como sicarios “cazaron” al comisario Milton Morales Figueroa para asesinarlo.” Infobae. 24 July 2024, https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/07/24/asi-fue-como-sicarios-cazaron-al-comisario-milton-morales-figueroa-para-asesinarlo/.

[6] Ibid.

[7] “Quién era Milton Morales, el ‘comisionario jefe’ a cargo de los crímenes de más alto perfil de la Ciudad de México que fue asesinado.” Univision. 23 July 2024, https://www.univision.com/noticias/mundo/quien-era-milton-morales-policia-rango-asesinado-cerca-ciudad-mexico.

[8] Ibid.

[9] “Quién era Milton Morales, asesinado en Coacalco?” Proceso. 23 July 2024, https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/2024/7/23/quien-era-milton-morales-asesinado-en-coacalco-333450.html.

[10] Georgina Zerega, “Milton Morales, el brazo operative de la policía capitalina que trabajaba en las sombras.” El Pais. 23 July 2024, https://elpais.com/mexico/2024-07-23/milton-morales-el-brazo-operativo-de-la-policia-capitalina-que-trabajaba-en-las-sombras.html.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Darío Brooks, “Cuál fue la efectiva estrategia de seguridad que Claudia Sheinbaum aplicó en Ciudad de México (y por qué es difícil implementarla en todo el país).” BBC. 4 June 2024, https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c511809j222o.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Op. Cit., “Quién era Milton Morales” at Note 9.

[15] Patricia H. Escamilla-Hamm, John P. Sullivan, Nathan P. Jones, and Robert J. Bunker, “Mexican Cartel Strategic Note No. 32: Former Governor Assassinated in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.” Small Wars Journal. 23 December 2020, https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/mexican-cartel-strategic-note-no-32-former-governor-assassinated-puerto-vallarta-jalisco.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Baruc Mayen, “Caen dos presuntos implicados en homicidio de Milton Morales, comisario de la SSC CDMX.” Infobae. 28 July 2024, https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/07/28/caen-dos-presuntos-implicados-en-homicidio-de-milton-morales-comisario-de-ssc-cdmx/. See also Fiscalía Edoméx @FiscaliaEdomex, “SE CUMPLIMENTA ORDEN DE APREHENSIÓN EN CONTRA DE DOS INDIVIDUOS RELACIONADOS CON EL HOMICIDIO DEL COORDINADOR GENERAL DE LA UNIDAD DE ESTRATEGIA TÁCTICA Y OPERACIONES ESPECIALES DE LA SSC CDMX.” Twitter (X). 28 July 2024, https://x.com/FiscaliaEdomex/status/1817661228346437822 and the accompanying image at https://x.com/FiscaliaEdomex/status/1817661228346437822/photo/1. 

[18] See John P. Sullivan and Adam Elkus, “Tactics and Operations in the Mexican Drug War.” Infantry. September-October 2011, https://www.academia.edu/12571867/Tactics_and_Operations_in_the_Mexican_Drug_War; John P. Sullivan, “Crime wars: Operational perspectives on criminal armed groups in Mexico and Brazil.” International Review of the Red Cross, IRRC No. 923,. June 2023, https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/crime-wars-operational-perspectives-923. 

[19] See David Kilcullen, Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015 for a discussion of competitive control in this context. 

[20] John P. Sullivan, “Criminal Insurgency: Narcocultura, Social Banditry, and Information Operations.” Small Wars Journal. 3 December 2012, https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/criminal-insurgency-narcocultura-social-banditry-and-information-operations; John P. Sullivan and Robert J. Bunker, “Rethinking Insurgency: Criminality, Spirituality, and Societal Warfare in the Americas.” Small Wars & Insurgencies. Vol. 22, no. 5: pp. 742–63, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09592318.2011.625720.

[21] See Tiziano Breda, “Mexico: Confronting Deadly Political and Criminal Power Struggles in an Election Year.” Conflict Watchlist 2024, ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data); 17 January 2024, https://acleddata.com/conflict-watchlist-2024/mexico/.

[22] See Daniel Weisz Argomedo, John P. Sullivan, and Robert J. Bunker, “Mexico Cartel Strategic Note No. 36: Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán López Arrested in Texas.” Small Wars Journal. 26 July 2024, https://smallwarsjournal.com/index.php/jrnl/art/mexico-cartel-strategic-note-no-36-ismael-zambada-garcia-and-joaquin-guzman-lopez-arrested.

Key Words: Assassination, Cártel de Sinaloa (CDS) Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, (CJNG), CDMX, Competative Control, Criminal Insurgency, Crime Wars, Estado de México, Edomex, Mexico City

Additional Reading

Daniel Weisz Argomedo, John P. Sullivan, and Robert J. Bunker, “Mexico Cartel Strategic Note No. 36: Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán López Arrested in Texas.” Small Wars Journal. 26 July 2024, https://smallwarsjournal.com/index.php/jrnl/art/mexico-cartel-strategic-note-no-36-ismael-zambada-garcia-and-joaquin-guzman-lopez-arrested

Patricia H. Escamilla-Hamm, John P. Sullivan, Nathan P. Jones, and Robert J. Bunker, “Mexican Cartel Strategic Note No. 32: Former Governor Assassinated in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.” Small Wars Journal. 23 December 2020, https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/mexican-cartel-strategic-note-no-32-former-governor-assassinated-puerto-vallarta-jalisco.

John P. Sullivan and Robert J. Bunker, Eds., The Rise of the Narcostate (Mafia States). A Small Wars Journal–El Centro Anthology. Bloomington: Xlibris, 2018.