Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco state and historic cultural center of Mexico, was touched by the ravages of the burgeoning drug war this morning. Three abandoned vehicles containing 23 bodies were discovered on a prominent avenue at 7:00 a.m.
Some authorities believe it may be the work of Los Zetas. The case bears grisly similarity to one in Veracruz on Mexico's Gulf coast in September, where 35 bodes were dumped on a busy city street, at the height of rush hour and in full view of hundreds of persons. Horror on a Veracruz street.
Guadalajara proper has a population of 1.6 million people (the Guadalajara metropolitan area, which includes several other cities, is home to about 4.5 million). Although no place in Mexico is immune to organized crime activity, both the city and Jalisco state have been largely free of the most extreme cartel violence since the five year old drug trafficking offensive was launched in December 2006.
A narcomensaje, or executioner's warning, was left at the scene. Police did not disclose its contents.
Update
Jalisco state authorities later reported 26 bodies were in the three vehicles. All were male, estimated to be between 25 and 35 years of age. Most of the bodies were semi-clothed, with feet and hands tied, and some were gagged. The heads of many were wrapped in black plastic bags; they may have been asphyxiated. Some victims also had been shot in the head.
Oct. 11, 2012 - Jalisco homicides remain unabated
Sept. 6, 2012 - Six murders in 12 hours alarm Guadalajara; security operations underway
Aug. 26, 2012 - More narco blockades in Guadalajara, by Los Matazetas
The victims were left within meters of Guadalajara's famed milenio arches
© MGRR 2013. All rights reserved. This article may be cited or briefly quoted with proper attribution or a hyperlink, but not reproduced without permission.
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