21 bodies found in outskirts of western Mexico's Morelia

[News_Editor]

21 bodies found in outskirts of western Mexico's Morelia

2011-06-10 03:01:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

MORELIA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- At least 21 bodies on Wednesday night were located in the outskirts of the city of Morelia in western Mexico, most of them had signs of torture and were executed, Quadratin news agency reported on Thursday.

Authorities located piles of bodies in different exit points of the city located in Michoacán state. All the bodies were men and were left with messages but the texts have not been disclosed yet.

At bout 9:00 p.m. local time, police officers discovered a pile-up of five bodies in the beginning of the Mil Cumbres highway and near a military post. The victims had been shot to the head and were severely beaten.

Minutes later, 13 bodies were found in another pile-up on the Salamanca highway. Another five victims were located near the Patzcuaro highway while three more were discovered on a football field in west Morelia.

On Thursday, authorities said that the 21 victims had been identified and all were aged between 21 and 40 years. Michoacán State Police (PGJE) chief Jesus Montejano labeled the discoveries as a "barbaric act and a scandal."

Montejano admitted that the situation in the western state was alarming as the number of bodies could increase. He remarked that an investigation was ongoing and that he requested help to federal agencies.

Michoacán is home to the violent La Familia cartel, one of the strongest drug cartels in Mexico. In November 2010, the criminal organization offered to disband if Mexico's government authorities guarantee peace in the region and "commit to assume the state's control sturdily and decisively."

Mexican authorities categorically rejected the offer as the "law is not negotiable." Mexico's President Felipe Calderon said the government will never negotiate with any criminal group.

According to government figures, a total of 15,273 drug-related crimes occurred in Mexico in 2010. More than 30,000 people, 249 of them soldiers, have died in drug-related violence since Mexican President Felipe Calderón began the fight against organized crime in December 2006.

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