Mexican authorities have recovered 31 bodies from 25 clandestine graves in Chiapas, a southeastern state notorious for cartel-related violence. The discovery comes as officials intensify efforts to curb criminal activities in the region near the Guatemalan border.
Jorge Luis Llaven, the Chiapas State Prosecutor, confirmed the grim findings, noting that 29 of the victims were male and two female. The bodies were unearthed over the weekend as part of an operation to restore stability to Frailesca, an agricultural region that has become a battleground for rival drug cartels.
The state government initially reported 15 bodies on Saturday, with two more discovered on Sunday and an additional 14 on Monday. Governor Eduardo Ramirez emphasized the government’s commitment to investigating the disappearances and recovering all missing individuals.
Chiapas has been identified as a key smuggling hub for drugs and migrants, according to InSight Crime, a think tank specializing in organized crime. The region has seen escalating violence as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel seeks to expand its influence into territories traditionally controlled by the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.
Since the launch of Mexico’s controversial anti-drug campaign in 2006, the country has recorded over 450,000 murders and tens of thousands of disappearances. The recent findings in Chiapas underscore the ongoing challenges posed by cartel violence and the toll it continues to take on communities.
