Photos: Vigilante groups in Michoacan state of Mexico register weapons

Soldiers inspect vehicles at a checkpoint at the entrance of Apatzingan in Mexico's violence-racked Michoacan state.

Soldiers inspect vehicles at a checkpoint at the entrance of Apatzingan in Mexico’s violence-racked Michoacan state.  (Alfredo Estrella / AFP/Getty Images)

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For the first time in modern Mexican history, an armed civilian band has ejected a drug cartel from its environs. But the vigilantes have also proved a challenge to the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto -- making clear that official security forces had been unable to do their jobs.

Michoacan violence

Mexican military and federal police regularly patrol the city of Apatzingan in Mexico’s Michoacan state.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Gun registration in Apatzingan

Residents and vigilantes show up at a gun registration organized by the Mexican government in the city of Apatzingan.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Gun registration in Michoacan, Mexico

Residents and vigilantes register their weapons in Apatzingan, Mexico.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Gun registration in Apatzingan

A man waits to register his weapon in Apatzingan.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Napping at a checkpoint

A member of a vigilante group sleeps at a checkpoint near the city of Apatzingan.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Papa Pitufo

Estanislao Beltran, center, known as Papa Pitufo, or Papa Smurf, is the leader of the so-called self-defense forces in Apatzingan, Mexico.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Lime marketplace in Apatzingan, Mexico

Limes are big business in Michoacan and prices on the international market have been soaring. The Knights Templar cartel dominated the farmers and production of limes. Now that they are on the run, the marketplace has returned to normal.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Federal police in Michoacan

Mexican military and federal police regularly patrol the city of Apatzingan.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Life returns to Apatzingan streets

Daily life is beginning to return to normal in Apatzingan, Mexico.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

The streets of Apatzingan, Mexico

Wary residents are hoping they will be safe in Apatzingan and throughout the Mexican state of Michoacan.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Feeling desperate

A woman carries a statue of St. Jude, the patron saint for hopeless cases, in Apatzingan.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Apatzingan sky

Swallows fly at dusk above Apatzingan.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Evening songs in Apatzingan

A group sings in the streets of Apatzingan, Mexico.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Business in Apatzingan

A DVD stand in Apatzingan displays mostly action films about cartels and assassins.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Rainy season in Apatzingan

The rainy season has come early to Apatzingan, which is good news for farmers.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

A suicide in Apatzingan

Esperanza Bejar passes the hearse holding her son, Roberto, who was kidnapped and beaten up by police over a business deal, she said, and then kidnapped and beaten by some of the more violent vigilantes. The pressure was too much, and he killed himself, she said.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

A final goodbye

Esperanza Bejar places her hand on her son’s casket in Apatzingan, Mexico.   (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)