The remains of 11 individuals, including two minors, were found in an abandoned truck on a highway in Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero state, Mexico, according to law enforcement officials. The victims comprised nine males and two females, and their deaths are being investigated as homicides.
The corpses were discovered on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, when a local resident reported a deserted van to authorities. Unconfirmed reports suggest the victims were dismembered and put into plastic bags, but these details are yet to be corroborated by prosecutors. It was confirmed that two of the victims were underage and two were female.
One of the victims, 14-year-old Angel Barrera Millan, was last seen in a hostage video in October after he was kidnapped along with family members.
In another incident in Acapulco, a nearby resort town, four more bodies were found in a vehicle, all showing signs of strangulation. The highway where the 11 bodies were found is the principal route connecting Mexico City and Acapulco.
The rise in violence is linked to a territorial dispute between the Ardillos and the Tlacos, two competing drug cartels in Chilpancingo. The conflict escalated in 2023 when one of the gangs hijacked a government vehicle, blocked a highway, held police officers hostage, and demanded the release of their arrested members during a large-scale demonstration.
The severity of the situation was underlined by the murder of Alejandro Arcos, the mayor of Chilpancingo, who was found decapitated less than a week after assuming office last month. The state also reported the killings of at least six people running for public office ahead of Mexico’s elections on June 2.
Last year, Guerrero state recorded 1,890 murders, a figure largely attributed to its location on the Pacific coast, making it a key hub for organized crime. Several groups, including the Jalisco Cartel New Generation, Guerreros Unidos, and Familia Michoacana, are vying for control in the area.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, who assumed office on October 1, has distanced herself from the “hugs, not bullets” approach towards cartel violence adopted by her predecessor. Her new security plan emphasizes improved intelligence-sharing among government agencies and strengthening the National Guard. It also features social support programs as alternatives to youth involvement in organized crime.
Since Sheinbaum’s inauguration, Mexico has seen 2,638 homicides across the nation. Since 2006, when the military was first deployed to combat drug trafficking, the country has witnessed over 450,000 murders and tens of thousands of disappearances.
