Bodies of three narco execution victims dumped near Cancún-Mérida highway

Latest killings may be linked to March 27 murder in front of Hotel Ibis; motive was failing to turn over money from drug sales

*See updates below*
Cancún, Quintana Roo --
Three apparent victims of narco terror were found by Quintana Roo authorities yesterday afternoon (April 2), near a highway which runs between Cancún and Mérida.

The male victims have not yet been identified. One had been nearly decapitated, and the other two were shot in the head. All had been bound and gagged. Police said the men were killed at another location and their bodies were driven to the scene. Three vehicles, one of which was a taxi, were located nearby. The first officers to respond intercepted persons who had driven the remains to the area, but they fled in another car. Police said they detained a 25 year old Cancún auto mechanic who was tying to repair one of the vehicles abandoned at the scene. He was taken into custody for questioning.

Authorities report that yesterday's executions could be linked to another one which occurred on a busy street in Cancún's hotel zone on Mar. 27. That attack killed a 21 year old man from Monclova, in the Mexican state of Coahuila. Execution in Cancún hotel zone: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/execution-in-cancun-hotel-zone.html.

Cancún police say that local taxi drivers are increasingly involved in the distribution of narcotics, as well as in kidnappings and violent crimes. I reported on that topic March 4: Los Pelones happily deliver drugs by taxi and death on demand in Cancún: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-cancun-los-pelones-happily-deliver.html.

They also claim that both of the organized crime gangs operating in the area, Los Zetas and Los Pelones, are now making extensive use of spies, known as halcones (falcons), to monitor police and troop movements as well as each other's activities. "Southern Zetas" operating in Cancún's hotel zone, say Quintana Roo authorities: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/southern-zetas-operate-in-cancuns-hotel.html.

The Quintana Roo state prosecutor reports that there have been at least 12 organized crime executions in Cancún since Jan. 1.

Update Apr. 4: The three victims still have not been identified, but authorities report that they were between 25 and 35 years old. The two whom police first believed had been shot were in fact killed by hammer blows to the head. They theorize the men were independent drug dealers. Both groups operating in the area, Los Zetas and Los Pelones, make it a practice to eliminate any competition on the street. Cancún narco violence claims fifth victim in 2012: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/cancun-narco-violence-claims-fifth.html.

The auto mechanic who claimed that he just happened to be present where the victims were dumped now admits that he works for the Zetas. They called him to the scene when the truck they had used to haul the bodies broke down. Los Zetas even have their own mechanics, it seems.

Update Apr. 6-7: Authorities today identified the three victims as Heidy Guadalupe Yam Quen, 24, originally from Tabasco state; Alfredo Jeremías Salinas González, 21, originally from Veracruz state; and Irving Alejandro Alfonsin Martínez, 24, also from Veracruz state. According to investigators, all three were street dealers for Los Zetas. They were killed for failing to turn over daily receipts -- in this case, an accumulated total of about 100,000 pesos ($8,000 USD), which they spent on "alcohol and women." Family members of the victims told police that they only occasionally spoke with them, and were unaware that they were selling drugs.

The presumed perpetrators are now in police custody. Los Zetas executioner arrested near Hotel Oasis Cancún: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/los-zetas-execution-squad-arrested-at.html#more. Three of them have been charged with murder, including the mechanic, who authorities say is a Zeta sicario (hit man). Cancún authorities suspect the ringleader (below) orchestrated other Zeta killings as well.

Yucatán a haven for Mexican fugitives: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/yucatan-haven-for-mexican-fugitives.html.
U.S. intensely focused on Yucatán security in 2008-2009: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/us-greatly-disturbed-by-yucatan.html.
Taxis y taxistas, involucrados con la delincuencia organizada: http://www.sipse.com/noticias/151321-taxis-taxistas-involucrados-delincuencia-organizada.html.