CULIACAN, Mexico (AFP) – The decapitated bodies of seven men have been found on a rural road in Mexico’s drug cartel-plagued northwestern state of Sinaloa, authorities said Friday.
The victims, who were between 22 and 49 years old, were shot dead on Thursday in the community of Cacalotan, state prosecutors and police said.
“They were all decapitated, placed on a little-traveled dirt road,” deputy prosecutor Martin Robles said at a news conference.
The victims were loggers who did not have criminal records, he said. They had been missing since June 13 after they left for work. Robles said the attack could be in response to the deployment of troops in the area on June 11 or because the loggers crossed into gang territory and the criminals wanted to “sow fear.”