59 Dead Bodies Found in Hidden Graves in Mexico

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At least 59 bodies were found in hidden graves in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato.

Guanajuato is one of Mexico’s most violent states, with its wealth and extensive energy infrastructure that has attracted the attention of criminal gangs.

“Most of the bodies, which still had skin tissue or other marks, looked like young people, very young, maybe even teenagers,” Karla Quintana, Head of Mexico’s National Search Commission said

“Most of the bodies, which still had skin tissue or other marks, looked like young people, very young, maybe even teenagers,” Karla Quintana, Head of Mexico’s National Search Commission (CNB) said, as reported by the AFP news agency on Thursday (29/10/2020).

Quintana added that between 10 and 15 women were among the victims, although this is still awaiting confirmation by experts.

The grave was found in the Barrio de San Juan neighborhood in the city of Salvatierra, in the southern part of Guanajuato.

Authorities were notified of the grave’s possible location two weeks ago, and state and federal security agencies have been cooperating over the past eight days.

According to the state’s head of search, Hector Diaz, a team of more than 80 people inspected the area on an 18-hour daily shift, and 52 excavations were carried out which eventually led to the discovery of the bodies.

Guanajuato has been shocked by increased violence related to the territorial war between the powerful Jalisco New Generation cartels and Santa Rosa de Lima.

Mexico has been hit by a wave of violence since the government deployed the military to fight drug cartels in 2006. About 293,000 people have died, according to official figures that did not specify how many cases were linked to organized crime.