By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat The existence of Colombian mercenaries in Mexico has been well known for at least 15 years, but new images of suspected CJNG-affiliated Colombian combatants fighting in Charapan, Michoacán, have brought renewed attention to their presence on all sides of the fight in  Michoacán .  On May 20, Raúl Zepeda, the Secretary of Government, confirmed that security forces killed 3 CJNG gunmen encountered on Hidalgo Norte, the road connecting the towns of Cocucho and Ocumicho. The gunmen apparently fired shots as the security forces arrived on a patrol, causing the firefight.  Photos posted online after the engagement show captured tactical vests and a hat with patches with the Colombian flag. Photos posted following the 20 May shootout.