Massacre of 27 in north Guatemala linked to Mexican drug gang 'Los Zetas'

Massacre of 27 in north Guatemala linked to Mexican drug gang 'Los Zetas'

2011-05-16 21:48:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (BNO NEWS) -- Criminal organization 'Los Zetas' have been linked to the killing of 27 people in north Guatemala, near the Mexican border, officials said Monday.

According to Gerson Lopez, adjutant director of Guatemala's National Civil Police, investigations indicated that around 200 armed men, members of the Z 200 bloc of Mexican drug gang Los Zetas, arrived at Los Cocos farm, which is located in the municipality of Libertad, Peten, on Saturday night and carried out the attack, Guatemala's Siglo 21 reported.

Guatemala's National Defense Ministry spokesman Rony Urizar said 25 of the 27 bodies were decapitated, as local authorities currently work with Mexican authorities to better control their common border and avoid culprits crossing into the neighboring country.

Last Wednesday, local business leader Luis Alberto Tobar Bardales, 53, was kidnapped along with his daughter-in-law Keyri Eunice Franco Salguero, 22, in Santa Ana, Peten, as they were negotiating the release of Luis Carlos Bardales Chacon, who had been previously kidnapped. On Saturday, the bodies of both persons were found decapitated.

Also on Saturday, suspected drug lord Haroldo Waldemar Leon Lara was gunned down in San Jose Peten.

Local authorities are still uncertain whether the recent killings are linked to the massacre of the 27 people, who were mostly farm workers.

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