In a shocking turn of events, six severed heads were discovered early Tuesday morning along a roadway in central Mexico, an area typically considered peaceful. This macabre scene was located on the route linking the states of Puebla and Tlaxcala, both of which are generally not associated with cartel violence.
While the police have not yet determined the motive behind these killings, reports from local media hint that a blanket containing a warning message was found at the site. This message appeared to be signed by a group known as "La Barredora," which translates to "the sweeper." This group is primarily active in the western state of Guerrero, but it's still unclear whether they are directly responsible for the gruesome act or what connection they might have to the region.
The local prosecutor's office confirmed that the heads belonged to men and has opened an investigation into the incident. The area struggles not just with drug trafficking, but also with fuel smuggling, a crime known as "huachicolea," which is a significant source of profit for criminal organizations.
The killings come amid a broader crackdown by President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking. Historically, Puebla and Tlaxcala have been spared from the extreme violence seen in other regions of Mexico, such as Sinaloa, where multiple decapitated bodies were found in June, and Guanajuato, where a recent shooting during a church festivity claimed the lives of seven youths.
Since the government deployed military forces against gangs back in 2006, violence between cartels has surged, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and numerous missing persons.
While the police have not yet determined the motive behind these killings, reports from local media hint that a blanket containing a warning message was found at the site. This message appeared to be signed by a group known as "La Barredora," which translates to "the sweeper." This group is primarily active in the western state of Guerrero, but it's still unclear whether they are directly responsible for the gruesome act or what connection they might have to the region.
The local prosecutor's office confirmed that the heads belonged to men and has opened an investigation into the incident. The area struggles not just with drug trafficking, but also with fuel smuggling, a crime known as "huachicolea," which is a significant source of profit for criminal organizations.
The killings come amid a broader crackdown by President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking. Historically, Puebla and Tlaxcala have been spared from the extreme violence seen in other regions of Mexico, such as Sinaloa, where multiple decapitated bodies were found in June, and Guanajuato, where a recent shooting during a church festivity claimed the lives of seven youths.
Since the government deployed military forces against gangs back in 2006, violence between cartels has surged, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and numerous missing persons.
