Since last Sunday night, the cartel known as Pacífico Sur has killed at least twenty people across five states, twelve of whom were decapitated. The bodies of the beheaded have been found throughout the states of Durango, Morelos, and Chihuahua.
Authorities in Gómez Palacio, Durango, found eight decapitated bodies across different parts of the city. Early Monday morning, four bodies were found in Morelos, three of which also had been beheaded; the heads had been placed in plastic bags. The bodies had inscribed messages in the style of Pacífico Sur calling out rival cartels as well as an individual by the name of Edgar Valdez Villarreal, otherwise known as La Barbie (The Barbie). Edgar Villarreal is known to be in dispute with Héctor Beltrán Leyva over who controls the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel following the death of Arturo Beltrán Leyva last December. Later that same day, a group of men from Pacífico Sur shot at police officers. No captures were made following the incident.
In Chihuahua, ten more were executed including one decapitation. In Ciudad Juárez, one man was found without eyes and severed arms and fingers. In Sinaloa, three brothers were killed and found with their faces damaged.
Sources:
Milenio. “En Durango, Chihuahua y Morelos, 12 decapitados.” Milenio. 8 June, 2010.
