Drug War Slaughter Continues in Northern Mexico

15 People executed in Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas was the scene of yet another harvest of death as the bodies of 15 more execution-style murder victims were found abandoned by their killers on the highway between Matamoros and San Fernando Thursday afternoon, July 29.

The 13 men and 2 women were found with their hands bound with plastic cable ties, faces bandaged and with visible marks of torture and beatings. All had been executed with a shot to the head.

Most of the bodies were dressed in white t-shirts with a "Z" painted in black. The crime scene was reminiscent of the July,12 executions of twelve people outside of Matamoros on the road to Las Yescas.

It is believed that the murders occurred at noon Thursday as passing motorists began reporting the carnage at that time to authorities in Matamoros.

The scene was secured shortly thereafter by military officials and federal policemen and agents from the Tamaulipas State Attorney General’s office began their investigation.

Practically no murders involving drug cartels are solved in Tamaulipas.



















Fighting erupts again on Sonora-Arizona border

Heavy gunfire was reported on the outskirts of Saric during the late evening hours of Thursday, July 29, approximately 30 miles from the Arizona border crossing at Sasabe.

Unconfirmed reports from locals speak of a death toll of between 25 to 40 gunmen from rival organized criminal gangs. Paramilitary forces from the Sinaloa and Beltran Leyva cartels are currently fighting for control of this lucrative drug and human trafficking “plaza” into Arizona.

The volume of fire was so heavy that the municipal and state police in Saric and Nogales chose to take shelter according to sources. Saric residents said the shootout began at 7:00 pm and continued into the late night hours. People took shelter in their homes and businesses until early Friday morning.

A large force of state and various municipal police forces sealed off the area Friday morning and began a reconnaissance of the area.

The Sonora Governor’s office released a statement saying it had not received any official reports from the field as of Friday afternoon. “Nothing is confirmed, all we know is what we have learned from the media. It is presumed there are armed groups out there”

However, officials from the Sonora State Attorney General’s office have confirmed an initial count of 3 deaths and 2 arrests as the search of the area began.

Earlier this month on July 1, fighting between rival groups of gunmen in the same area resulted in an official death toll of 21 men, almost all belonging to the Sinaloa cartel. Unofficial sources reported a much higher death toll.