Mexican Criminal Group Ardillos Engages in Brutal Attacks Against Rivals and Indigenous Communities

The Ardillos, a notorious criminal organization based in Guerrero, Mexico, has recently escalated its violent tactics against rival groups and local communities. In May 2026, the group launched several coordinated attacks involving arson, armed assaults, and drone-dropped explosives, leading to the forced displacement of up to 1,000 Indigenous people from their homes in Chilapa, Tula, and Xicotlán. These actions highlight the Ardillos' aggressive territorial control strategies and their willingness to use extreme violence.

Founded in the early 2000s by Celso Ortega Rosas, alias "La Ardilla," a former rural police officer from Quechultenango, Guerrero, the Ardillos have since grown into a powerful criminal entity. The group's origins trace back to the fragmentation of larger cartels like the Gulf Cartel and the Beltrán Leyva Organization. These organizations expanded their operations into Guerrero due to its strategic position as both a drug production hub for opium poppy cultivation and a key corridor for cocaine trafficking.

The Ardillos' criminal activities extend beyond drug trafficking, encompassing illegal mining, extortion of Indigenous communities, and targeting legal industries such as transportation and food sales. Their influence is particularly pronounced in the La Montaña and Montaña Baja regions of Guerrero, where they maintain a strong foothold through intimidation and violence against local populations and rival gangs.

This recent wave of attacks underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and community leaders in curbing the Ardillos' expansion and protecting vulnerable communities from further harm.