Volunteer searchers have unearthed a grim discovery near the US-Mexico border in Reynosa, Mexico, located across from McAllen, Texas. Twenty-seven bodies have been found in clandestine graves, many of them dismembered, highlighting the brutal violence plaguing the region.
The discovery was made after an anonymous tip led the search group, "For the Love of the Disappeared," to a site near an irrigation canal, just a few miles from the border. Some bodies were recently buried, with tattoos still visible on the skin, allowing for the identification of four individuals. However, many remains were found dismembered, complicating identification efforts.
Edith González, the leader of the search group, noted that some of the 16 graves contained multiple bodies. The state of decomposition suggests the site may have been used by criminal organizations within the past couple of months. Some bodies were buried under only a shallow layer of earth.
The Tamaulipas state prosecutor's office confirmed the discovery. Drug and kidnapping gangs are known to use such clandestine burial sites to dispose of their victims, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime in the region.
This discovery comes as search groups, often comprised of family members of missing persons, increasingly rely on anonymous tips to locate potential burial sites. While these tips can be valuable, they also carry risks. Earlier this month, a cartel in Jalisco state used a fake tip about a mass grave to ambush police officers, resulting in several fatalities and injuries. This incident led to a temporary suspension of police involvement in searches based on anonymous tips.
The Reynosa discovery adds to the growing number of missing persons in Mexico, currently exceeding 110,000. It emphasizes the urgent need for effective strategies to combat organized crime and address the pervasive violence impacting communities along the border.
