In a gruesome display of violence, twenty bodies were found in Mexico over the weekend, marking a bloody day of cartel warfare. The victims, all male, were discovered with gunshot wounds, according to the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office. Among the deceased, five were decapitated, with four of these bodies grotesquely displayed by being hung from a highway bridge near Culiacán, the largest city in Sinaloa state.
The remaining fifteen bodies, including the fifth decapitated victim, were found in close proximity, inside a van. Adding to the horror, a plastic bag filled with five human heads was discovered near the bridge, as reported by officials. The van bore a banner referencing the ongoing conflicts between rival drug cartels in Sinaloa.
These victims were part of a total of 27 murders reported in Sinaloa on Sunday, which included a young man and two women who fell victim to an armed attack in Culiacán. The recent surge in drug-related violence in Mexico is attributed to the escalating conflict between the rival gangs Los Chapitos and La Mayiza. These groups are currently battling for control over strategic drug trafficking routes in Sinaloa.
The power struggle between these factions erupted in September, following the high-profile kidnapping of a group leader by the son of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. The kidnapped individual was later handed over to US authorities via a private plane.
Culiacán, once considered one of the more peaceful Mexican cities, has since been ravaged by violence as the Sinaloa Cartel struggles to maintain control. Despite the escalating violence, Mexican authorities maintain that they are taking necessary measures to combat organized crime.
Feliciano Castro, a spokesperson for the Sinaloa government, stated on Monday, “Military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace in Sinaloa.”