Mexico Police Find 8 Bullet-Riddled Bodies Wrapped in Blankets in Zacatecas State Plagued by Drug Cartel Violence
Authorities in Mexico found eight corpses wrapped in blankets in Zacatecas state, which is plagued with violence between several Mexican drug cartels.
According to Borderland Beat, the bodies were found a few minutes before 2 a.m. on the road that leads to the Benito Juarez community. Authorities arrived in the area after residents called 911 to report the bodies lying on the road and the suspicious movement of some trucks.
Following the discovery of the corpses, police quickly cordoned off the area and began their investigation. Authorities said the bodies bore signs of torture and were riddled with bullet wounds.
The bodies have not yet been identified, and no one has yet been detained. In less than a week, about 15 lifeless bodies were found in Zacatecas, Debate reported.
7 Bodies Also Found in Mexico's Zacatecas State This Week
On Sunday morning, police found seven bodies dressed in tactical clothing in a mountain area of ââJerez municipality in the same state. The bodies, all identified as male, were discovered on a dirt road in a mountainous area that leads to the Los Motas ranch.
The corpses were found to be riddled with bullets. According to local reports, some of the clothing bore the initials of an organized crime group. The bodies were reportedly transferred to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) unit, where the task of identification begins.
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Mexican Drug Cartels in Mexico's Zacatecas State
Zacatecas is reportedly one of the most violent states in Mexico due to disputes between Mexican drug cartels. Aside from the Jalisco cartel and Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, Northeast Cartel, and the Los Talibanes also operate in Zacatecas state.
All five crime organizations are involved in the operations of trafficking fentanyl and other illegal drugs. Security experts said a wave of violence had enveloped the streets of Zacatecas as Mexican drug cartels fought for control of territory.
They noted that Zacatecas was not only an important market for drug dealing but also crucial in transporting fentanyl from Mexico's South Pacific ports to the U.S. border.
The state reportedly links the center and west of Mexico to the American border, a key territory for drug-trafficking routes. Mexican drug cartels usually display dead bodies publicly to taunt their rivals or authorities. It is also sometimes used to scare local residents.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) is currently the Sinaloa Cartel's main rival. The Jalisco cartel is being led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known by his alias "El Mencho."
The Sinaloa Cartel is reportedly not a hierarchical structure as its leaders like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada all maintained their own separate but cooperating organizations.
The Jalisco cartel came out from the Sinaloa Cartel in 2010 after the death of former Sinaloa Cartel capo Ignacio Coronel, known as "Nacho," who was killed by Mexican security forces.
Nacho's death resulted in the split into two factions - "La Resistencia" and "Torcidos" - of the Sinaloa Cartel. The "Torcidos" became what is now the Jalisco cartel, which has since expanded rapidly in Mexico. The Jalisco cartel involves itself in many criminal activities, including international drug trafficking.
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Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Mexico's Zacatecas Turns Into the Latest Battleground for Cartels - From Al Jazeera News English