Additional Coverage:
Six Decapitated Heads Found in Central Mexico
A gruesome discovery has shaken the typically tranquil central Mexican states of Tlaxcala and Puebla. Early Tuesday morning, authorities found six severed heads on a roadway connecting the two states. The scene also contained a blanket with a message seemingly directed at a rival gang, signed by a group known as “La Barredora,” or “the sweeper.”
While the Tlaxcala Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the victims were all men and has launched an investigation, a motive remains unclear. No official statement has been released regarding which criminal organization might be responsible. “La Barredora” is known to operate primarily in the western state of Guerrero, raising questions about their involvement in this incident so far from their usual territory.
Though relatively peaceful compared to other parts of Mexico, Tlaxcala and Puebla have faced challenges related to organized crime, including drug and human trafficking, as well as fuel theft, a lucrative criminal enterprise known as “huachicoleo.” This horrific discovery comes amidst a national crackdown on fentanyl trafficking by the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
While drug trafficking is a significant concern, the region’s involvement in fuel theft adds another layer of complexity to the investigation. Authorities are working to determine if this crime is connected to cartel activity in the area or represents a new escalation of violence.
This incident follows a disturbing trend of cartel-related violence across Mexico. In June, 20 bodies, five of them decapitated, were found in Sinaloa.
In May, a shooting at a church festival in Guanajuato claimed the lives of seven young people. Mexico has grappled with escalating cartel violence since the government’s deployment of the military against gangs in 2006.