18 bodies unearthed from clandestine graves in northern Mexico

18 bodies unearthed from clandestine graves in northern Mexico

2010-11-30 15:14:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican authorities have announced that they unearthed at least 18 bodies from eleven clandestine graves in the northern state of Chihuahua, the El Universal newspaper reported on Tuesday.

On Saturday, soldiers located the eleven clandestine graves in a gap on the side of a highway in the border town of Puerto Palomas, near New Mexico.

The identity of the victims is still unknown and federal and state agents are still digging in the area in order to determine if there are any more corpses. The clandestine graves were found near the ranch "El Capricho."

Authorities have not informed if the bodies found are from members of local or national drug cartels or if they were the victim of any drug-related organization.

Mexico's northern state of Chihuahua has been one of the most affected by murders and violence related to drug-trafficking groups. Ciudad Juarez is known as the deadliest city in the nation.

Just hours before announcing the discovery, authorities informed that the Police chief of Meoqui, a municipality of Chihuahua, was killed shortly after leaving her home for work. Hermila Garcia Quiñones was shot dead by individuals on two vans.

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