In a recent operation in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, authorities unearthed 15 bodies from 11 clandestine graves. The gruesome discovery was made during a city-wide operation in La Concordia, a city located northeast of Mexico’s border with Guatemala. The region has been a hotbed of violence due to the ongoing feud between two infamous drug cartels.
Chiapas Governor Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar announced the findings on social media, stating that the operation led to the arrest of four individuals. In addition to the arrests, authorities seized multiple weapons, vehicles, and drugs. The governor emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring peace and tranquility in the region, vowing not to back down in the face of cartel violence.
The first property raided by authorities contained three bodies in three graves, according to a statement from the state prosecutor’s office. The second property, however, held a more macabre scene with 12 bodies found in eight graves.
This discovery comes on the heels of another gruesome find last week in Emiliano Zapata, a town just outside of La Concordia. Authorities found a hidden gravesite containing bodies that had been severely burnt, making identification of the deceased a challenging task, according to Chiapas Prosecutor General Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca.
The ongoing conflict between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels over drug routes, migrant and weapons trafficking has caused significant displacement in the region. Humanitarian organizations report that over 10,000 people have been displaced in recent years due to the violence. The brutal turf war has resulted in the massacre of entire families and forced local communities to align with one cartel or the other. Many residents have sought refuge in neighboring Guatemala to escape the relentless violence.
In addition to the cartel violence, Chiapas has also seen a surge in migrants from Central America, Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela. These individuals are often en route to the United States, further complicating the region’s already volatile situation.
Mexico’s newly elected President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to continue the policy of her predecessor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, of non-confrontation with the drug cartels.