In Mexico, police have found the decapitated bodies of five men in Jalisco state, just a week after a Mexican mayor was beheaded. The bodies were discovered in plastic bags on a road in the municipality of Ojuelos. National Guard members found the headless bodies and are working to identify the victims and gather evidence. These grisly murders point to possible drug cartel involvement, particularly as Jalisco is home to one of the country’s most powerful and violent organised crime groups, the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG).
The municipality of Ojuelos has been the scene of several violent murders linked to organised crime, and Jalisco state has seen a high number of murders this year. Violence is common across Mexico as local gangs clash with authorities. Since the government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006, over 450,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands have gone missing. The violence in Mexico is escalating, with various drug-trafficking gangs competing for control in different regions.
In another incident, the mayor of Chilpancingo city in Guerrero state was killed just days after taking office. His head was left on the hood of a pickup truck, highlighting the extreme violence in the region. Guerrero has long been a hub for opium poppy production, leading to increased competition among drug-trafficking gangs. These armed groups have been challenging local authorities, with tensions escalating in recent years. President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female leader who took office in October, faces a major challenge in tackling cartel violence.
President Sheinbaum has vowed to continue her predecessor’s “hugs not bullets” strategy, which focuses on using social policies to address the root causes of crime. She emphasized that the war on drugs will not be revived, referring to the United States-backed offensive launched in 2006. Her administration is tasked with finding alternative solutions to combatting organised crime while addressing the widespread violence in the country. The pressure is on for the new government to suppress criminal activity and protect citizens, particularly in regions like Jalisco and Guerrero where violence is rampant.
The discovery of decapitated bodies in plastic bags underscores the brutal nature of drug cartel violence in Mexico, as well as the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating organised crime. The ongoing clashes between gangs and authorities highlight the need for innovative solutions to address the root causes of crime and violence in the country. President Sheinbaum’s commitment to a non-violent strategy presents a unique approach to tackling cartel violence, but the results remain to be seen in the face of escalating tensions and increasing casualties. The recent murders in Jalisco and Guerrero serve as stark reminders of the ongoing battle against drug cartels in Mexico and the urgent need for effective strategies to address this complex issue.
