Five beheaded bodies found near road in Mexico

The decapitated bodies of five men have been discovered near a road in central Mexico, in a region dominated by the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The grisly find was reported on Sunday morning by drivers who spotted plastic bags containing human remains near the town of Ojuelos, Jalisco. Local police and forensic experts quickly arrived on the scene to investigate and identify the victims.

The Jalisco State prosecutor’s office confirmed that the remains were wrapped in black plastic bags. National Guard troops also secured the area. So far, authorities have been unable to determine the ages or identities of the victims.

Officials have stated that the brutality of the killings and the public display of the bodies point to involvement from organized crime groups, likely tied to ongoing cartel violence in the region.

The state of Jalisco has been particularly hard-hit by cartel-related violence, with 1,415 recorded murders between January and September 2024, according to official figures.

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Mexico overall continues to struggle with rampant violence, with more than 30,000 homicides reported annually, making it one of the most violent countries in the world.

This latest incident follows the assassination of Alejandro Arcos, mayor of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, last week, just days after he took office. His murder points to the deepening crisis of cartel violence across the country.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, sworn in last week, has pledged to avoid the heavy militarization seen in previous administrations, instead focusing on intelligence gathering and addressing the root causes of violence.

This approach, coined “hugs not bullets,” was championed by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but has faced criticism from the opposition, who are calling for a stronger crackdown on cartels.

Since Mexico’s government began using the military against drug cartels in 2006, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and tens of thousands remain missing in the ongoing conflict.