An investigation has been initiated by Mexican authorities following the shocking discovery of six decapitated heads along a roadside. This incident occurred in an area typically regarded as safe from such extreme acts of violence. The remains, all identified as male, were discovered on a road linking the central Mexican states of Puebla and Tlaxcala, as reported by the prosecutor’s office.
Along with the severed heads, investigators discovered a pamphlet at the scene. The pamphlet suggested that the brutal act was the result of a feud between rival gangs. The State Attorney General’s Office (FGJE) has since launched an investigation into the murders, promising to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Puebla and Tlaxcala are generally viewed as some of the safer states in Mexico. The U.S. State Department has assigned them a Level 2 travel advisory, which is the second-lowest warning. According to official statistics, Tlaxcala contributes to only 0.5% of the 14,769 intentional homicides recorded in Mexico this year, while Puebla accounts for 3.4%.
Despite these relatively low figures, the State Department recognizes that both states struggle with criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking, fuel smuggling, and human trafficking. Extreme violence, including decapitation, is usually concentrated in the northern and western states along the Pacific coast.
In June, a similarly horrifying discovery was made in northwest Sinaloa, where 20 bodies, five of them headless, were found under a bridge. More recently, southern Mexico has seen a surge in gruesome crimes.
In March, the dismembered bodies of nine missing students were discovered by a highway on the border of Puebla and Oaxaca. A bag containing the students’ hands was found nearby, adding to the horror of the crime scene.
The recent increase in violence, particularly in areas previously considered safe, has raised concerns about the spread of gang-related violence in Mexico. The ongoing investigation into the recent decapitations is expected to provide more insight into the situation.