Mexican security officials made a grim discovery in the southern state of Chiapas, finding the bodies of 19 men piled into the back of a truck near the town of La Concordia. The local prosecutor’s office reported that five of the victims showed signs of gunshot wounds, and all were found wearing dark clothing, tactical vests, and carrying firearm magazine clips.
The incident is believed to be linked to an ongoing conflict between a Guatemalan criminal gang and Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa cartel. A government security source in Chiapas revealed to Reuters that the victims were likely Guatemalan members of a criminal group fighting for territorial control in the area.
“It’s a criminal group that wants to get into the area. They’re Guatemalans, and this is where they’re facing off against several (criminal) cells, in this case from Sinaloa,” the source stated.
Guatemala’s consulate in Chiapas is working to identify the victims, with the country’s foreign affairs ministry stating that four to seven of the bodies are presumed to be Guatemalan nationals. The ministry is in communication with the Chiapas prosecutor’s office to determine the nationalities of all victims.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador addressed the incident during his regular morning press conference, describing it as an “unfortunate confrontation” and confirming that both Mexicans and Guatemalans were among the dead.
This violent episode underscores the growing problem of gangland violence in Chiapas, which has increasingly become a hotspot for criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human smuggling. The security source in Chiapas noted, “As a result of the increase in migrant trafficking in the area, the Sinaloa cartel, which previously controlled drug trafficking there, has become very strong.
The incident highlights the complex and dangerous situation along Mexico’s southern border, where criminal organizations vie for control of lucrative smuggling routes. As authorities continue their investigation, this tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing law enforcement in the region and the human cost of cartel violence.
