Mexican authorities announced the recovery of 31 bodies from makeshift graves in a southeastern state plagued by cartel violence. The excavation of the graves began over the weekend in Chiapas, a region near Guatemala known for a turf war between rival drug cartels.
Governor Eduardo Ramirez of Chiapas declared an operation to restore stability to Frailesca, an agricultural area where violence has been escalating due to cartel activity. State Prosecutor Jorge Luis Llaven reported that a total of 25 clandestine graves had been uncovered, leading to the discovery of 31 bodies, with 29 males and two females among the victims.
Initially, the Chiapas state government had revealed the finding of 15 bodies on Saturday. An additional two bodies were recovered on Sunday, followed by 14 more on Monday. Governor Ramirez shared images of the scene on social media over the weekend.
The state prosecutor, along with the state security secretariat, vowed to continue the investigation until all missing persons’ bodies are located. Search collectives indicated that drug cartels and organized crime groups sometimes incinerate victims in ovens to erase any traces.
The violence linked to cartels in Mexico primarily occurs along drug trafficking routes, borders, and entry points. Chiapas, positioned on the southern border of Mexico, has been identified as a key hub for drug and human trafficking, according to the InSight Crime think tank.
In a tragic incident in October, prominent Catholic priest Marcelo Pérez was fatally shot in Chiapas. Pérez had been threatened on multiple occasions, and human rights advocates criticized the lack of sufficient government protection provided to him.
The surge in violence coincides with the encroachment of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel into territories previously controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s prominent drug trafficking syndicates. Since the launch of Mexico’s controversial anti-drug campaign in 2006, the country has witnessed over 450,000 murders and tens of thousands of disappearances, as per official data.
Recently, Mexican authorities uncovered 12 bodies buried in clandestine graves in Chihuahua state in the north. The state prosecutor’s office disclosed the finding of 11 graves containing 12 skeletons in the Ascension municipality near the U.S. border.
These distressing discoveries shed light on the ongoing challenges Mexico faces in combating cartel violence and organized crime, urging authorities to intensify efforts to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
