Crime
Fear: Mexican authorities find 13 frozen, hacked-up bodies in Veracruz
Mexican police found the bodies, which were frozen and hacked to pieces, during a raid of several houses connected to gangs in the town of Poza Rica in the Gulf Coast state
August 15, 2023 5:02pm
Updated: August 15, 2023 5:02pm
Mexican authorities on Monday said they found the bodies of at least 13 individuals in ice chests and freezers at two different houses used by kidnappers in the state of Veracruz.
Mexican police found the bodies, which were frozen and hacked to pieces, during a raid of several houses connected to gangs in the town of Poza Rica in the Gulf Coast state.
“Unfortunately there could be more than 13 bodies, and it is probable that there are others in the process of identification,” Veronica Hernández Giadans, the chief prosecutor of Veracruz.
According to the Governor of Veracruz, Cuitlahuac Garcia Jimenez, the killings resulted from a dispute between rival gangs. He suggested that some gang members kidnapped and killed the children of rival gang members.
At least six people were arrested in connection to the raid. However, it is unclear why those arrested are believed to be responsible for the bodies.
“We don’t want this type of account settling between criminal gangs to continue this way,” Garcia Jimenez said.
Authorities will launch an investigation, including field and laboratory tests, to determine the number of people involved in the crime and their identities, said the Veracruz attorney general’s office.
"The General Directorate of Forensic Services, since it became aware of the facts, has been carrying out criminalistic field and laboratory tests that will allow us to determine the number of individuals involved and their identities," Garcia Jimenez added.
Additional bodies might be found during the investigation, said Hernandez Giadans.
The state of Veracruz is widely known as a hub for criminal activity, including human and drug trafficking. During the first half of this year, around 400 people have been killed, according to government data.
Garcia Jimenez said on Monday more reinforcements will be sent to the entire northern region to improve security and said that actions have already been taken to prevent the violence from continuing.
