By Erica Laster                                                                                                                      Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Acapulco, a popular resort city in Mexico, has been able to boast a number of tourists in previous years.  However, a statement by Guerrero State Public Security office has confirmed the discovery of 15 headless bodies on a highway next to a popular shopping center in the city.   Police were alerted to their presence after following a trail of burning vehicles to the corpses.  The victims ranged in age from 25-30 and were all male.

Authorities believe the slayings to be drug related after discovering a number of hand written notes with the bodies.  Handwritten signs bore the signatures of “El Chapo’s People.”  Director of Investigative Police for Guerrero State, Fernando Monreal Levya confirmed the belief that this is a reference used by the Sinaloa Cartel, headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Saturday’s discovery is the largest decapitation group found in recent years.

Violence has increased in the resort city of Acapulco in recent years due to the high prevalence of drug trafficking. 

This past Saturday, two police officers and ten civilians were also killed in the city.  The police officers were a casualty of an armed attack on a police post in the Emiliano Zapata district of Acapulco.  Six of those civilians were discovered shot with their feet and hands bound inside of a local taxi.  The body of a town mayor was also discovered in northern Mexico on Saturday.

“We are coordinating with federal forces and local police to reinforce security in Acapulco and investigating to try to establish the motive and perpetrators of these incidents,” stated Director Monreal.  Over 30,196 people have lost their lives in drug related violence since 2006 offensive began against Mexican cartels to stem the flow of drugs and murders.

Associated Press – 27 Deaths, Including 14 Decapitated, Rock Acapulco – 9 January 2011

New York Times –Bodies Found Beheaded In Assaults In Acapulco, Mexico – 8 January 2011

CBS News – 14 Headless Bodies Found In Mexico Resort City – 8 January 2011

CNN – 15 Headless Bodies Found In Acapulco – 8 January 2011