Mexico: toll reaches 260 after eighth mass grave uncovered

Mexico: toll reaches 260 after eighth mass grave uncovered

2011-06-25 06:02:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

DURANGO, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- With an eighth mass grave found in Mexico's northern state of Durango, officials on Friday said the total number of bodies sum to 260.

The state's Attorney General Office's interim chief Alejandro Moreno Valadez on Friday said the number of total bodies found in Durango's eight mass graves was 260, despite the state's Ministry of Public Security saying the number was 250.

According to a report by the Public Prosecutor, a recently discovered skull and body parts correspond to two more bodies, while another eight bodies found in the municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro in April, would add to the 250 bodies previously documented, explained Attorney General spokesman Gerardo Ortiz, which would bring the total to 260.

Moreno Valadez also said that the eight mass graves have been completely emptied and will now be permanently closed. However, out of all of the victims, only three bodies have been identified. Most of the victims were men, as less than 20 bodies were female.

Earlier in the year, authorities unearthed 183 bodies from mass graves in San Fernando municipality, in the state of Tamaulipas. Among the victims were also migrants from Guatemala. It is believed that the victims were people who refused to enlist within the ranks of 'Los Zetas' drug cartel. In the beginning of June, the Attorney General's Office announced that arrest warrants were issued against 73 individuals suspected of being involved in the mass graves.

According to government figures, a total of 15,273 drug-related crimes occurred in Mexico in 2010, while more than 30,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Mexican President Felipe Calderon began his campaign to fight organized crime in December 2006.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-25