Mexico’s Cartel Wars: A Violent Clash in Chiapas Leaves 19 Dead and Tensions High

In the state of Chiapas, Mexico, a violent clash between hitmen from the Sinaloa, Chiapas, and Guatemala cartels resulted in the death of 19 individuals. The Mexican government’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) confirmed the discovery of 19 bodies inside a truck on the road connecting Jaltenango de la Paz with La Reforma over the weekend.

On Saturday, June 29, a video circulated on social media depicted lifeless bodies in a cargo truck, with individuals claiming to be part of the Sinaloa Cartel and alleging that the victims were linked to a rival organization operating between Chiapas and Guatemala. The violent event saw 15 men murdered by gunfire in the back of the truck, with two more in the cabin and one located approximately 100 meters from the vehicle.

The State Attorney General’s Office of Chiapas reported that five individuals were found inside a dump truck on June 30, all having suffered gunshot wounds. Further investigations revealed an additional 14 corpses inside the same truck, clothed in dark attire and tactical gear and each possessing firearm magazines. The identities of six victims were disclosed, while the remaining 13 yet to be identified as part of an ongoing investigation into this violent incident.

Amid rising homicide rates in Mexico, with over 240 cases recorded in May leading up to highly contested June elections, political tensions may have contributed to this tragic event. Despite a slight decrease in homicides by 4.18% compared to previous years’ figures from 2023-2020 when over 34,000 individuals fell victim to fatal attacks annually due to declining homicide rates following peak violence during those years as reported by SSPC.