Mexico: Corpses With Jalisco Cartel Caps Found in Zacatecas Believed to Be Tortured, Killed by Rival Sinaloa Cartel

Four bodies, three wearing Jalisco cartel caps, were reportedly found in Mexico's Zacatecas state, and authorities believed that members of the rival Sinaloa Cartel killed them.

According to Infobae, the discovery of the bodies in Monte Escobedo, Zacatecas, happened during the early hours of Wednesday, the same day Arturo Medina Mayoral was sworn in as the new head of the Public Security Secretariat of Zacatecas.

Borderland Beat reported that the corpses of three men and a woman bore signs of torture and had gunshot wounds. Two of them were reportedly tied with ropes by their hands and feet and were all lying face down when they were found on the streets of the town.

Three of the victims had caps with letters of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) on their sides, and one of them seemed to have had packaged food at his feet and a caltrop on one side.

The areas where the bodies were discovered were in Don Manuelito square, Martinez Lopez street, and another next to the Monte Escobedo library.

According to initial reports, authorities believed that the bodies could belong to alleged hitmen of the Jalisco cartel, and members of the Sinaloa Cartel could have attacked the victims. However, this information has yet to be confirmed.

Jalisco Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel Operating in Mexico's Zacatecas State

Zacatecas has seen bloody turf wars between Mexican drug cartels in recent years. The Jalisco cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, Gulf Cartel, Northeast Cartel, and Los Talibanes are the drug cartels reportedly operating in the state.

All five crime organizations are involved in the operations of trafficking fentanyl and other illegal drugs. Security experts previously 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 or human body parts publicly not only to intimidate their rivals or authorities but also to scare residents. The Jalisco cartel is currently the Sinaloa Cartel's main rival.

The Jalisco cartel is being led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," who continues to evade capture. The U.S. government has already offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. El Mencho remains to be the most elusive criminal and is reportedly hiding in Mexico.

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.

Homicides in Mexico Rises Amid Disputes Between Mexican Drug Cartels

Mexico recently reported an increase in violence in January after the number of people killed was higher than in December and November. Mexico reportedly closed January with 2,303 victims, with an average of 74 murders per day.

Preliminary figures showed that the average number of murders per day in December was 73 and 69 last November. The Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat (SSPC) reported that 2,277 people were killed in December. Data also showed that Guanajuato is the state with the most number of homicides.

A total of 249 murders were recorded in Guanajuato last month. The State of Mexico followed with 238 murders, Baja California with 165, Michoacan with 146, Zacatecas with 145, Jalisco with 150, Chihuahua with 144, Guerrero with 129, Nuevo Leon with 106, and Veracruz with 93.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Mexico Sends Troops to Tijuana After String Of Cartel Violence - From NBC News