Remains Of 25 People And Five Bags Possibly Containing Body Parts Found In Mass Graves In Mexico

KEY POINTS

25 people were found Saturday in a mass grave in Jalisco state of New Mexico
Investigators have also discovered at least five bags possibly stacked with severed body parts at the scene
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said that the state is home to Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-growing drug cartels

Remains of at least 25 people and five bags containing body parts found Saturday in a mass grave in Jalisco state of New Mexico, the state’s prosecutor’s office said.

Investigators have also discovered at least five bags possibly stacked with severed body parts at the scene, according to a press release. The findings were made in El Salto, a city southeast of Guadalajara. The bodies and the bags are set to undergo forensic analysis, according to the statement. Authorities did not reveal who was responsible behind the carnage.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said that the state is the home turf of Jalisco New Generation, Mexico’s “most powerful and fastest growing” drug cartels, adding that the group parted ways from the Sinola Cartel 10 years ago. The agency added that its personnel are braving the health risk tied to the COVID-19 pandemic to work in fundamental areas, in order to pinpoint the missing persons.

Another similar discovery was made in January wherein at least 26 bags filled with severed human body parts were found dumped in a ravine near Jalisco state. Officials worked to ascertain the exact count of the bodies mutilated and tried to determine the origin of the remains. Officials found the bags in two installments, 14 on the first day and 12 more the following day. Authorities didn’t immediately disclose who was responsible.

However, speculations were rife that the New Generation Cartel, which became more active in recent years, might be at the helm of these killings.

In late November, a band of henchmen, allegedly belonging to a drug cartel, stormed the small Mexican town of Villa Union in trucks and fired shots at government offices. Police personnel accounted for 4 among the 21 total deceased in an exchange of fire, with 14 belonging to the armed goons. The incident happened weeks after several U.S.-Mexico dual citizens and their children were assassinated by gunmen while travelling between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua.