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Distro - Auto Defensas: Fending Off Mexican Cartels 

Larry Towell 

In 2024, Larry Towell travelled to Guererro, one of the poorest and most violent provinces in Mexico where villages are under the control of organized crime. Of the estimated 200 cartels and sub-groups now operating in Mexico, sixteen are in Guererro, including Los Ardillos (The Squirrels), which controls the region around Ayahualtempa where local poppy production for opium has been replaced by fentanyl.

“In 2015, the cartels started coming,” said Luis Morales Rojas, a local town leader. “In 2016, they became more visible. In 2017, they visited and offered me a bag of money. I told them we will... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Day of the Dead,... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Food Market. Day... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Day of the Dead,... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Cemetery. Bird sacrifice... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Cemetery. Day of... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Policeman in cemetery.... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Day of the Dead,... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Policeman in cemetery.... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. .22 calibre rifle. Members... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024.
Members of Guererro’s auto... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024.
Empty street. Members of... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024.
Empty road. Members of... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024.
Cemetery. Day of... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024.
Cemetery. Day of... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Al Panteon San Miguel Amoltepe, Guererro. 2024.
Cemetery.... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024.
Lane and houses. Members... 
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Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. .22 calibre rifle. Members... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. .22 calibre rifle. Members... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. .22 calibre rifle. Members... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Evangelical church service... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. An indigenous Nahua home.... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. .22 calibre rifle. Members... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Vintage single barrel shotgun.... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Commandante Luis Morales... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Hueicantenango, Guererro. 2024. Aerial. Cartel-run town... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Muddy road entering village... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Chain across road at auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Funeral of a local resident... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Funeral of a local resident... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Funeral of a local resident... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Commandante Luis Morales... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Aerial. Members of Guererro’s... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Aerial with lagoon. Members... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Home and family of Commandante... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Santa Cruz del Rincon, Guererro. 2024. Home of auto defensas... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Members of Guererro’s auto... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Hueicantenango, Guererro. 2024. Aerial. Cartel-run town... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Entering village of Ayahualempa.... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Brass band. Day of... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Ayahualtempa, Guererro. 2024. Evangelical church service.... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Car in which two... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Mexico City. 2024. Revolutionary graffiti. 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Day of the Dead,... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Day of the Dead,... 

Larry Towell 2024

MEXICO. Cochoapa el Grande, Guererro. 2024. Day of the Dead,... 
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