Airport authorities in Mexico discovered four human skulls hidden inside a package that was supposed to go to the United States.
According to Mexican law enforcement, they found the skulls wrapped in aluminum foil and packed in a cardboard box that was supposed to be sent to the US via courier.
The Mexican National Guard said that the skulls found at Queretaro International Airport, located in Central Mexico, were sent in the package from Michoacan, a western coastal state in Mexico. The package was reportedly heading for Manning, South Carolina, before it was discovered during a security checkpoint at the airport.
Mexican authorities did not provide further details about the skulls, including their identities, age, or gender. According to the National Guard, the package did not have the special permit required to transport human remains.
Michoacan is one of Mexico’s most violent and dangerous places, as it experiences frequent violent incidents due to its extensive drug cartel presence. In 2021, Zamora, a city in Michoacan, was ranked as the world’s most dangerous and violent city. The city recorded 610 murders in 2021, with more violence continuing in 2022 when seven people were killed during an armed attack in January.
In the first two months of 2022, 490 people were killed in Michoacan. For the last two decades, from 2000 to 2022, authorities have recorded over 420,000 intentional homicides in the state.
Mexican police have not publicly declared whether they believe the skulls found at the airport are related to a crime or evidence of one.
The Mexican government has long struggled with its fight against drug cartels and human traffickers getting into the US via its borders.
President Andres Lopez Obrador’s security strategy has failed to combat the cartels, who have continuously shown their brutality, lack of mercy, and preparedness for war.
The government has so far been unable to tackle the problem, despite President Obrador’s campaign promise to rid the country of cartel violence. He has increased military presence in streets across the country and relies on the National Guard and army to tackle the violence.
The president’s military deployment policy has been met with much criticism as people see it as a failed strategy, with over 26,000 people in Mexico murdered in 2022.
The US government is also struggling to control the overwhelming flow of drugs and migrants at the US-Mexico border, which saw a record-breaking number of migrants throughout 2022.
