Mexican Navy Finds 10 Bodies In Mass Grave Sites

Published February 8, 2012 3:36PM (EST)

VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) — A suspected member of the Zetas drug gang has led Mexican authorities to a mass grave site at two ranches in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, the navy said Wednesday.

The navy says its personal detained suspect Francisco Alvarado Martagon Tuesday as he attempted to drive past a military checkpoint near the city of Acayucan in a vehicle without license plates.

Once in custody, Alvarado Martagon confessed to being a head lookout for the Zetas, it said.

Under questioning, the man mentioned two sites at local ranches that the Zetas allegedly used to dispose of bodies, including rivals or members of their own gang who had been executed.

The navy said it inspected the sites and found the buried, badly decomposed remains of 10 people on Tuesday and continued searching.

Veracruz has been the scene of bloody battles between the Zetas and the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Mexican authorities have found hundreds of bodies dumped by drug gangs in mass graves in recent years, mainly in the states of Durango and Tamaulipas.


By Salon Staff

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