Children hold toy guns as they demonstrate newly learnt skills from military-style weapons training, to a Reuters journalist, in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

David Sanchez Luna, a community police agent, drinks a cup of coffee at his home in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Reinel Toribio, 9, walks past state police officers holding a toy gun, as he demonstrates newly learnt skills from military-style weapons training, to a Reuters journalist, in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

People react during a funeral service held for five of the ten musicians who were ambushed and killed by suspected Los Ardillos cartel members, after stepping out of the territory guarded by their self-defence militia, known as CRAC-PF, during funeral services in Alcozacan, Mexico, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Community police agents ride on the back of a truck while escorting widows on their way to claim a pension from a government authority, in Alcozacan, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Guillermo Gatica, 6, holds a toy gun as he demonstrates newly learnt skills from military-style weapons training, to a Reuters journalist, in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Espiriodion Gaspar, a community police agent whose family has gone missing after his village was attacked by Los Ardillos, cartel members, shaves his beard while on watch in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Abuner Martinez, 16, a community police agent who's father was beheaded by criminals, guards a check point in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Children walk together in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Community police agent Uriel Sanchez, carries a shotgun as he works in a cornfield in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A community police agent shows a corncob from his cornfield, for a photo in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alberta Rodriguez Hernandez, whose mother was tortured and killed by unknown assailants, sits with her daughter Erika Sanchez, 10, at their home in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A chicken stands with its leg tied to a piece of string, outside a house in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A woman carries two chickens that were slaughtered earlier that morning, in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

People prepare a meal in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Women receive boxes of food during a visit by state governor Hector Flores (not pictured) in Alcozacan, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ana Xokojyolzin, 1, sits on her mother's lap, next to her sister Zitlalen Ester, 8, at home in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Ana Xokojyolzin, 1, lies in a hammock at her home in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Yektli Sanchez, 14, who has been trained as a community police agent, sits on his bed as he plays the guitar at his home in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Adan Sanchez, 9, plays chess with his sister Zitlalen Ester, 8, at their home in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Children with toy and real guns, demonstrate newly learnt skills from military-style weapons training, to a Reuters journalist in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Children walk in a single file, holding toy and real guns, as they demonstrate newly learnt skills from military-style weapons training, to a Reuters journalist, in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Miguel Toribio, 11, puts a pistol belonging to his father into his belt, before demonstrating newly learnt skills from military-style weapons training, to a Reuters journalist in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Community police agents help Natalia Rosendo, 80, to release her donkey, trapped between the rocks in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Moises Sanchez, 20, a community police agent, guards his post in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Josue Sanchez and Lucia Venancio, who are a couple, chat in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A community police agent, poses for a photo as he guards a check point in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

People gather in a community centre to discuss security issues in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

People carry the coffins of five of the ten musicians who were ambushed and killed by suspected Los Ardillos cartel members, after stepping out of the territory guarded by their self-defence militia, known as CRAC-PF, during funeral services in Alcozacan, Mexico, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Dorotea Morales sits with her one-year-old son on her lap between her daughter and Maria Martinez, as they travel to a meeting with a government worker, to ask for a pension after their husbands were killed by suspected Los Ardillos cartel members, in Ayahualtempa, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Modesto Verales checks a pickup truck that his brother was killed in, after it was delivered by police in Alcozacan, Mexico, February 1, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Community police agents meet at an intersection during an operation to buy products, at a territory allegedly controlled by Los Ardillos cartel members near Ayahualtempa, Mexico, February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Men react during a funeral service held for five of the ten musicians who were ambushed and killed by suspected Los Ardillos cartel members, after stepping out of the territory guarded by their self-defence militia, known as CRAC-PF, during funeral services in Alcozacan, Mexico, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Community police agents ride on the back of a truck while escorting widows on their way to claim a pension from a government authority, in Alcozacan, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A pig stands between trees on the outskirts of Ayahualtempa, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A community police officer displays 45mm caliber bullets for a photo, after exchanging them with a colleague for other calibre's, on the outskirts of Ayahualtempa, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Houses stand in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Traditional Mexican tortillas are prepared in Rincon de Chautla, Mexico, February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

People carry the coffin of a man who was one of the five musicians who were ambushed and killed by suspected Los Ardillos cartel members, after stepping out of the territory guarded by their self-defence militia, known as CRAC-PF, during a funeral service in Alcozacan, Mexico, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "MEXICO CARTEL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.