CurrentReport Blog The decapitated bodies of five men were found near a roadside in central Mexico, in an area dominated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations. Drivers discovered the gruesome scene on Sunday morning near the town of Ojuelos, Jalisco, with the victims’ remains stuffed into black plastic bags.
Local police and forensic teams responded quickly to investigate and attempt to identify the victims, but authorities have yet to determine their ages or identities. National Guard troops were also deployed to secure the area.
The Jalisco State prosecutor’s office indicated that the killings were likely linked to cartel violence, noting the brutality and public display of the bodies as signature tactics used by organized crime groups. The region has been a hotspot for cartel activity, with Jalisco experiencing 1,415 recorded murders between January and September 2024.
Mexico continues to battle high levels of violence, with more than 30,000 homicides reported annually, placing it among the most violent nations in the world. The ongoing conflict, which escalated when the government began using the military to combat drug cartels in 2006, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and left tens of thousands missing.
This latest discovery follows the assassination of Chilpancingo’s mayor, Alejandro Arcos, in Guerrero last week, highlighting the increasing risks faced by public officials in the country. The recent surge in violence presents a significant challenge to newly inaugurated President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has pledged to shift away from military-heavy tactics and focus on intelligence and prevention to address the root causes of cartel violence.
While Sheinbaum’s approach mirrors the “hugs not bullets” strategy of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, opposition leaders are calling for a more aggressive crackdown on the cartels as the country grapples with worsening violence.
