Security operation arrests group linked to controversial church
An important security operation coordinated in the state of Michoacán resulted in the arrest of 38 people, among whom is a US citizen, allegedly identified as members of the well-known church La Luz del Mundo. During the procedure, the authorities managed to seize an arsenal consisting of more than a dozen replicas of firearms, knives and various tactical equipment, according to the state Public Security Secretariat.
The facts: complaint and raid in Vista Hermosa
The arrests were carried out on a property located in the municipality of Vista Hermosa, an area close to the border with the state of Jalisco. The action was initiated after receiving a citizen complaint alerting about the presence of armed civilians in the area. Upon arriving at the site, the security forces corroborated the presence of the group and proceeded with the intervention.
A crucial piece of information provided by an anonymous official source to The Associated Press indicated that, at the time of their arrest, the men identified themselves as members of La Luz del Mundo. This Christian church, whose history dates back to 1926 when it was founded precisely in Jalisco, claims to have a membership of around 5 million followers distributed in more than 50 nations.
The background: the serious charges against the spiritual leader
This event occurs in a context of high tension for the religious organization. Just two weeks ago, its top leader, Naasón Joaquín García, was formally accused, along with his mother, of committing sexual abuse against generations of young followers. Before a federal court in New York, the religious leader, whom his believers consider the “apostle of Jesus Christ,” pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, this is not the first time that Joaquín García faces justice. In an event that shocked public opinion, the leader was sentenced in 2022 by a court in Los Angeles, United States, to a sentence of 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing three minors. The Californian justice thus sentenced one of the darkest chapters of the institution.
The operation in Vista Hermosa had the joint participation of elements of the Mexican Army, the National Guard, as well as state police and agents of the State Attorney General’s Office. During the thorough inspection of the site, security forces confirmed that the 38 individuals were “conducting operational tactical training.” The arsenal seized included a functional handgun, 19 replica firearms, knives, pocket knives, and specialized tactical and communication equipment, as well as a vehicle.
The authorities have refrained from revealing the full identity of those detained, limiting themselves to confirming the presence of a US national within the group. The specific charges for which they were arrested will be announced in the coming hours as the ministerial investigation progresses.
Formal accusations and pattern of conduct
The legal situation of Naasón Joaquín García becomes even more complicated. The religious leader, originally from Los Angeles, now faces accusations of having used his position of power within The Light of the World to sexually abuse numerous women, including girls. The indictment presented in New York describes in great detail the alleged attacks suffered by 13 female victims, who were minors at the time of the events, some as young as 13 years old.
The court document, alarmingly, suggests the existence of a pattern of criminal behavior that would transcend the current figure of the leader. Investigations indicate that Joaquín García’s father and grandfather, both deceased and who also led the church, would have carried out similar actions, which raises serious questions about the structure and practices within the organization for decades.
The church, which has its headquarters in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, maintains a significant presence in the United States, with congregations in states such as California, New York, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., according to the indictment documents.
Internal control and links with power
A disturbing aspect revealed by US prosecutors is the system of control that was allegedly exercised within the congregation. In a document presented to argue against the release on bail of the leader’s mother, it is detailed that members of the church were warned that they would be punished and condemned eternally if they doubted the apostle, disobeyed his teachings or defied him in any way. This dynamic, according to the authorities, would facilitate impunity for alleged crimes.
For its part, the leader’s defense has vigorously rejected the accusations. Defense attorney Alan Jackson described the new accusation as the result of “a reckless campaign of government overreach,” insinuating that there is persecution against his client.
The influence of La Luz del Mundo seems to extend beyond the religious. According to reports from the local organization Defensorxs, at least two women who were elected in the middle of this year as judges in the state of Jalisco have been publicly linked to the church, which raises questions about their possible connections with spheres of public power.
This case continues to develop and it is expected that in the coming days the corresponding hearings will be held to define the legal situation of both the 38 detainees in Michoacán and that of Naasón Joaquín García himself in the United States, in a judicial process that is being closely followed internationally.
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