Los Zetas dump 49 bodies in Nuevo Léon

The Zs' latest act of terror, only a few miles south of U.S. border

*Update below*
The bodies of 49 presumed drug war victims were discovered about 4:00 a.m. today in Mexico's northeastern Nuevo Léon state. The remains of 43 men and six women were decapitated and dismembered, most with their hands cut off.

The victims were discovered on a remote stretch of highway between Reynosa and Monterrey, the latter of which is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico. Reynosa, in Tamaulipas state, is a border town directly across the Rio Grande from Hidalgo Tx.


Tamaulipas, located east of Nuevo Léon, is well known for narco violence. Earlier this year the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros advised Americans to exercise extreme caution in the area. Drug trafficking routes to the United States pass through both jurisdictions. Those routes are in hot dispute between two groups, Los Zetas (the "Zs") and Cártel del Golfo.

The victims were killed at another site and tossed out by the roadside, investigators said. Forensic examinations suggested they had been dead for about 48 hours. Their bodies were in black plastic bags.

Authorities said the victims might be Central American migrants. Drug cartels sometimes kidnap migrants or lure them into performing labor, executing them in mass when they're no longer needed. Mexico concedes that thousands of migrants cross its territory every year, headed to the United States in search of work while attempting to escape escalating crime and narcotics related violence in Guatemala and Honduras.

But police don't discount the possibility that the executions may be the handiwork of one cartel against another, most likely Los Zetas, who frequently quarter their enemies. The NL state security spokesman said during a press conference earlier today, "This is just a reflection of what's going on all over Mexico. There's violence almost everywhere between criminal organizations, but these attacks are not directed against the civilian population."

The latter assertion is generally, but not completely, accurate. In one of Mexico's worst drug war attacks, civilians were indeed targeted, most of whom turned out to be women. Casino Royale attack kills 52 (August 2011).

Many Mexican agencies participated in today's examination of the scene where 49 decapitated and mutilated cadavers were discovered. Because the hands had been cut off all the victims, identification will be much more difficult. There is suspicion that they were illegal migrants from Central America, killed by drug traffickers. It wouldn't be the first time in the drug war that a migrant population has been subjected to extreme narco violence.

May 14: None of the victims have yet been identified. Many of them have tattoos suggesting Central American origins. None of the remains have bullet wounds. Forensic examiners have not determined whether they were alive when dismembered. Authorities confirm that a Los Zetas narcomensaje, or executioner's warning, was left at the scene. Mexico's Secretary of Government announced a $30 million peso reward for information leading to the arrests of those responsible during an afternoon press conference. That's about $2.4 million USD at the current exchange rate.

June 17: Five weeks after the event, the 43 males and six females remain unidentified. Investigators are using the most sophisticated techniques available. Aún no identifican.

Executed on street in Monterrey, Nuevo Léon: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/01/eight-publicly-executed-in-monterrey-nl.html. U.S. missionaries murdered in Monterrey: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/us-missionaries-murdered-in-monterrey.html. 47,515 have died in Mexico's five year drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/01/47515-have-died-in-mexicos-five-year.html. Violence in Tamaulipas state: Bloody narco violence strikes border town of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/bloody-narco-violence-strikes-border.html. U.S. Consulate in Matamoros, Tamaulipas issues Emergency Warning: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/us-consulate-in-matamoros-tamaulipas.html. A Free Press under fire in Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/free-press-under-fire-in-mexico-and.html. Three Americans named as victims in Veracruz bus attack: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/three-americans-named-as-victims-in.html. Death toll along Veracruz-Tamaulipas border rises: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/death-toll-along-veracruz-tamaulipas.html. Update on Texans executed in Veracruz state: "I told her not to go to Mexico": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/update-on-texas-family-executed-in.html. U.S. sailor goes out for a Christmas cup of tea, loses his life on Tampico street: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/us-sailor-who-went-out-for-christmas.html. Internet blogger decapitated by Los Zetas: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/internet-user-executed-by-los-zetas.html. Update on the "social media executions" in Tamaulipas: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/update-on-social-media-executions-in.html. Cuidado con tus “tweets” – ¡los sicarios te matarán!: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/cuidado-con-tus-tweets-los-sicarios-te.html. Central American drug war and insecurity: Peace Corps exits Honduras in face of rising drug violence: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/01/peace-corps-exits-honduras-in-face-of.html. Honduras "invaded by drug traffickers": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/honduras-invaded-by-drug-traffickers.html. Guatemala "almost bankrupt" by drug violence, human trafficking and sex trade: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/almost-bankrupt-guatemala-calls-upon-us.html. Guatemalan army will lead drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/guatemalan-army-joins-drug-war-we-have.html. Does the 1950s "domino theory" have contemporary relevance to Central America?: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/could-domino-theory-apply-to-central.html.