Denise Bosque, legal representative of families of the victims said the association has documented 150 cases of enforced disappearance in the town of Piedras Negras, in the region of Cinco Manantiales (Five Springs).
According to reports, in about 60 cases, the agents involved were from Grupo de Armas and Tactical Especiales (Special Weapons Tactical Group) (GATE) and other security groups, which were created during the administrations of Humberto and Ruben Moreira.
In 51 cases, it was found that victims were tortured into making false confessions, who then were wrongly convicted and currently imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.
The GATE and GROM, Grupo de Reacción Operativa Metropolitana (Metropolitan Reaction Group) (GROM) were created in 2009 when Humberto Moreira announced the creation of elite groups to combat insecurity.
In one case, was Victor Manuel Rivas Guajardo, who was taken from his home by elements of GATE
![]()
in 2013; to date his whereabouts are unknown.
Meanwhile, the association added that these police groups do not keep records of arrests made, so that the families of those involved cannot prove any violation of human rights.
Both GATE and the GROM operate under the support of the authorities, as they have done nothing to address the demands of the people.
"The state justifies the creation of GATE for actions against organized crime, but they are fighting crime withworse crimes," Bosque said.
"The state justifies the creation of GATE for actions against organized crime, but they are fighting crime withworse crimes," Bosque said.
