Eight Bodies Found on Mexican Highway to Acapulco

By REUTERS APRIL 10, 2017, 3:18 P.M. E.D.T.

ACAPULCO, México — The bodies of eight men were found stuffed in a SUV  along the highway that connects Acapulco with Mexico City, in one of the latest violent episodes to shake the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, a government official said on Monday.

The bodies were discovered close to midnight on Sunday, wrapped in plastic bags and secured with plastic tape.

Roberto Alvarez, spokesman for Coordination Guerrero, which coordinates state and federal law enforcement, said in a video announcement sent to reporters that the men were aged 25 to 35 and died from suffocation. The bodies showed evidence of torture, he added.

Two had their faces exposed, and six were covered with sheets, according to police sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. 

KSI reported that the eight bodies initially appeared to be gagged; while Alvarez did not specify how they were asphyxiated, drug gangs in Mexico frequently wrap their victims’ faces and heads with packing tape, cutting off their breathing.   

In Guerrero, different criminal groups tied to the poppy trade wage bloody turf wars while the army destroys crops.

DD: This past Friday before the official start of Semana de Santa (Easter Week) today (April 10) Operativo de Seguridad Semana Santa held a parade to show the residents and the tourist  that were expected  the security forces that would be protecting them during that week.  There were the usual speeches by the leaders of the military, the federal and state police and the Mayor.  This video is in Spanish but for the non Spanish speaking readers just click on the “CC” (closed caption) at the bottom of the screen you can read the English subtitles.  

 Even though there were several murders over the weekend, including a 13 year old boy killed in the early morning hours of Monday (today), the tourist seemed to believe the promises made in the speeches.  The Secretary of Tourism announced that there was a already a 85% occupancy rate (beach front and centro) based on reservations. Most of those are thought to be Mexican tourist rather than foreign tourist.  

He estimated they would spend over 435 Million pesos during that week.  It seems to appear that they feel safe and are not afraid of the big bad wolf.