Mexico: descent into chaosBiggest mass graves linked to drug-related violence uncovered in Mexico

Entrance to newly-discovered mass grave // Source: bbc.co.uk

Mexican troops say they have discovered seventy-two bodies at a ranch in the north of the country. The bodies were found after a shoot-out with suspected drug cartel gunmen in which three gunmen and one marine were killed, the military said.

Found near San Fernando in Tamaulipas state, the corpses are reportedly those of 58 men and 14 women.

More than 28,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico over the last four years. The BBC reports that the shoot-out near San Fernando happened after an injured man turned up at a navy checkpoint saying he had been attacked by cartel gunmen, Mexican media reported. Troops raided the ranch, launching an aerial assault. They arrested one underage suspect, military said.

They found the bodies during a search of the site, also discovering a cache of weapons, ammunition, and uniforms. It appears to be among the biggest mass graves linked to drug-related violence to be uncovered in Mexico.

It was not immediately clear exactly where the bodies were found or for how long they had been there.

Tamaulipas is one of the states worst affected by the violence, and has been the scene of fierce fighting between the Zetas and Gulf cartels.

The navy issued a statement saying the government condemned the “barbarous acts committed by criminal organizations.”

“Society as a whole should condemn these type of acts, which illustrate the absolute necessity to continue fighting crime with all rigor,” the statement said.

In recent months an increasing number of mass graves have been discovered. In June, police recovered fifty-five bodies from an abandoned mine near Taxco, in Guerrerro state.