A violent clash between hitmen representing the Sinaloa, Chiapas, and Guatemala cartels occurred in southern Mexico, specifically in the state of Chiapas. The incident resulted in 19 fatalities and has brought attention to the ongoing drug violence plaguing the country. This was confirmed by the Mexican government’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC).
The gruesome discovery was made on June 29 when several deceased individuals were found along a road connecting Jaltenango de la Paz with La Reforma. A video circulated the day prior showed lifeless bodies in the back of a cargo truck, identified by the perpetrators as members of the Sinaloa Cartel and their rivals linked to Chiapas and Guatemala. The victims were wearing tactical gear and were armed with long weapons, underscoring the violent nature of the clash.
In response to this incident, the federal government dispatched 200 agents to bolster security in the region. The State Attorney General’s Office of Chiapas, in collaboration with various law enforcement entities, located a total of 19 bodies in La Concordia. The victims had gunshot wounds and were found inside a dump truck, all dressed in dark clothing and tactical vests with firearm magazines.
This latest episode of drug violence adds to the grim statistics of homicides in Mexico. In May alone, there were 2,657 recorded homicides as reported by the SSPC. Despite a marginal decrease in overall homicides in recent years, Mexico continues to grapple with violence linked to drug cartels and organized crime. The government’s efforts to curb this bloodshed have been met with challenges, highlighting the complexity and severity of the situation in the country.
The incident also serves as a reminder that despite some progress made by authorities against drug cartels over recent years, there is still much work to be done. This includes addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment
