The discovery of five decapitated bodies in plastic bags on a road in western Jalisco state in Mexico has once again highlighted the issue of organised crime in the country. The bodies were found just a week after a Mexican mayor was beheaded in a separate incident. The state prosecutor’s office received a report from drivers who spotted plastic bags that appeared to contain human shapes on the road in Ojuelos, northeastern Jalisco. National Guard members who arrived at the scene discovered the headless bodies of five men, along with a nearby bag believed to contain their severed heads.
The gruesome murders and public disposal of bodies suggest the involvement of drug cartels in Mexico. Jalisco is known to be home to one of the country’s most powerful and violent organised crime groups, Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG). The municipality of Ojuelos borders a city where several violent murders linked to organised crime have taken place. Official figures reveal that 1,415 people were murdered in Jalisco state between January and September of the current year, underscoring the prevalent violence in the region. Mexico has been facing ongoing violence as local gangs clash with authorities, with over 450,000 people killed and tens of thousands missing since the deployment of the army in 2006 to combat drug trafficking.
In another incident on October 6, the mayor of Chilpancingo city in Guerrero state, Alejandro Arcos, was killed shortly after taking office, with his head reportedly left on a pickup truck. Guerrero has been a key region for opium poppy production, leading to violent competition among various drug-trafficking gangs. These armed groups have been increasingly challenging local authorities, exacerbating tensions in the region. Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who assumed office on October 1, faces the daunting task of addressing the issue of cartel violence. She has expressed her commitment to continuing the “hugs not bullets” strategy of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, which aims to address crime through social policies rather than militaristic approaches.
The ongoing violence in Mexico has raised concerns nationally and globally, particularly as innocent civilians continue to be victims of organised crime and drug-related violence. The government’s efforts to combat drug trafficking have yielded mixed results, with the situation remaining grave in many regions. President Sheinbaum’s administration will need to find effective strategies to address the deep-rooted issue of cartel violence and ensure the safety and security of all citizens. The recent incidents of beheadings and murders only serve to highlight the urgency of the situation and the critical need for swift and decisive action to curb organised crime in Mexico. Only through a coordinated and comprehensive approach can the country hope to stem the tide of violence and restore peace and stability for its people.
