Mexican authorities confirmed on Dec. 15 that at least nineteen bodies have been found in a deep ravine in the violence-plagued state of Guerrero.
There were at least nineteen bodies dumped in the 1640-foot deep ravine, and half of them were badly burned, reported one official who wished to remain anonymous, according to the AFP. Two of the bodies were found in pieces, and the authorities have not ruled out the possibility of finding more bodies in the area, according to Salon.
The ravine is in Chichihualco, a village close to the state's capital of Chilpancingo, reported Reuters. The bodies were buried under rocks and soil, noted a spokesman for a Chilpancingo prosecutor.
The bodies were found at the end of last week thanks to an anonymous tip, noted officials, according to Salon.
Guerrero has become known for its widespread cartel violence, due to the poppies that grow in the mountainous region that can be used for the production of opiates. It is also a province where the cartels tend to fight over heroin trafficking routes, noted AFP. Because of cartel violence, hundreds are missing from Guerrero, and throughout Mexico, over 26,000 are missing. An unknown number of people, likely in the tens of thousands, have been murdered, reported AFP.
Guerrero was the site of mass protests after 43 student teachers were abducted from Ayotzinapa Teachers College in 2014 by corrupt police in the city of Iguala. They were allegedly given over to gang members to be murdered, reported AFP.
