Mexican Drug Violence: Zetas Gang Suspect Leads Navy To Mass Graves With 10 Bodies

VERACRUZ, Mexico — A suspected member of the Zetas drug cartel led Mexican authorities to mass graves at two ranches in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz where marines unearthed 15 bodies by Wednesday.

The navy said its personnel detained Francisco Alvarado Martagon on Tuesday when he tried to drive a vehicle without license plates past a military checkpoint near the city of Acayucan.

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

The navy announced Wednesday morning that marines inspected the sites and found the buried, decomposed remains of 10 people but were still searching. The security force increased the number of bodies to 15 later Wednesday.

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 northern states of Durango and Tamaulipas.

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Comments

[Dizzy Caruso]

07:58 PM on 02/20/2012

Something to think about, When we were teenagers, we would ask a wino to buy us a bottle of wine in exchange , we give him enough money to buy one for himself. We have teenagers buying drugs anywhere on the streets in every part of this country. If legalization of drugs pass's, I have a feeling that kids will start selling drugs to even younger kids. I don't know, I don't have the answers. And as of now I have 34 years sober, and a lot of friends of mine( in AA ) have a lot of time sober, and a lot of people I know are dead. I'm picturing a toddler leaning on a pole with a needle or a bottle of wine and a younger toddler ask him, can I get a hit.
PS Back in the 60's or earlier,I don't recall drug dealers giving or selling drugs to children. Today they give it to their own children so they become slaves and used in child porn. And we call our selves civilized.

[GANGLEADERCAL4NIA]

05:05 AM on 02/10/2012

GEE I THOUGHT THEY SAID TEN YEARS OFFICERS WHAT THE HELL R U DOING????

[rob01826]

05:52 PM on 02/09/2012

Send in the US Marines and these mutts will be pissing their pants.

[omobob]

05:40 PM on 02/09/2012

Every year the US exports 11 to 13 billion to the Northern Drug Cartels. They can afford to bribe or kill anyone. The legalization of medical marijauna is the first step towards taking cash out of the hands of the violent cartels. 40 years of The War on Drugs is an abject failure. Time to think of some thing new.

"The global war on drugs has failed and governments should explore legalizing marijuana and other controlled substances, according to a commission that includes former heads of state, a former U.N. secretary-general and a business mogul. A new report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy argues that the decades-old worldwide "war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world." The 24-page paper was released Thursday. "Political leaders and public figures should have the courage to articulate publicly what many of them acknowledge privately: that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that repressive strategies will not solve the drug problem, and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won," the report said. The 19-member commission includes former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former U.S. official George P. Schultz, who held cabinet posts under U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43248071/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/global-war-drugs-has-failed-key-panel-says/#.TnoerkaYND4

[Tonydeeee]

11:53 AM on 02/09/2012

Not a fan of the death penalty, but there are times that I wish these animals would simply be put to sleep.

[gregory57]

11:05 AM on 02/09/2012

This phony drug war generates tons of cash. Neither govt. can afford to end it. What's a few corpses here and there? Especially if they're Mexicans? Life can be pretty cheap down Mexico way.

[lightningbolt]

10:54 AM on 02/09/2012

The war on drugs k i l l s more people than the drugs themselves.  The war on drugs is clearly not about saving lives.

[sidecarman]

09:55 AM on 02/09/2012

thanks you nra, gop, baggers for all of the killings

[media4meisback]

10:21 AM on 02/09/2012

Actually Holder.

[AZreb]

08:34 AM on 02/09/2012

We see articles like this regularly - what is missing from the HP articles on Mexico is information on the coming elections in July of this year. Why is this important to the US? We need to know the platforms and people who are running for president, especially, in order to get a feel for what they would do in this "holding pattern" on the failed drug war.

Saw on another site a couple of days ago where the ruling party in Mexico has designated a woman as its candidate for the presidency. Haven't seen anything on HP about it. We need information - facts - especially since this involves a country that shares a border with our country.

[Arturo Ramrez]

05:54 PM on 02/09/2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/josefina-vazquez-mota-mexico-national-action-party_n_1257152.html

[AZreb]

07:56 AM on 02/10/2012

Thanks - getting really hard to find any articles that are pertinent and timely on HP - except, of course, for the politics in our country.
Don't you think that articles such as the one you mention should be on the first page of "world"? Instead, we have to dig for any information on elections in Mexico.

[mackfleetwood25]

07:46 AM on 02/09/2012

yeah thats what i thought maybe they took the boards from the border fence to make a raft .

[lifehub]

05:36 AM on 02/09/2012

Mexico has a 'Navy"?? What a hoot!

[Dawn Rodriguez]

08:28 AM on 02/09/2012

This is why we must end the failed war on drugs. Prohibition has always produced mobsters and doesn't stop people anyway. Put the money into rehab and the problem will go away.

[sallybutt45]

10:13 AM on 02/09/2012

Wish it could be that easy, Dawn, unfortunately, it is a monumental problem because of the staggering amount of money involved. Mexico had no discernible drug problem, but that has changed! They would have to legalize drugs on both sides of the border. That doesn't solve the weapons problem, though, and as they lose the drug revenues, there are increased kidnappings for ransom, which Americans need to consider if they are planning vacations in Mexican resorts. There is no easy answer. Many of the young undocumented children that have been deported back to Mexico actually find themselves in a country "foreign" to them, and being bi-lingual, they are being recruited by the cartels to carry out assassinations on this side of the border.

Charles Bowden has written several books on the subject, and he doesn't feel very optimistic. Just follow the money, and you will see who has a lot to lose w the legalization of drugs. You will find the Big Pharma, Liqour & Beer, and the Arms manufacturers dead set against it. Hillary Clinton said as much a few months back. There is too much money to be made to end the war on drugs!

[Isom Dart]

05:11 AM on 02/09/2012

How many more need to die over a drug that should be sold at the local pharmacy?

[ringerang8]

03:41 AM on 02/09/2012

Let me get this straight, they make billions of dollars, but they cant afford a license plate ? Leave it to the Mexicans...."OH Lucy ! you got some esplanin to do !.....( I know he was Cuban, it just fits here )

[alwaysfarright]

12:29 AM on 02/09/2012

I read many comments making jokes about what is going on at our border...besides the Mexican illegals coming across to find work there is also human traffickers and drug cartels which are armed and dangerous. Some have set wild fires on our side of the border which have burnt down homes. Hamas has also set up shop in Mexico and are also crossing the border. The Fed have closed down national parks in the area to allow them safe haven...have posted signs telling Americans Danger & to stay out. The people who live near the border are asking for help and the government is ignoring them.

[UTARebel]

02:08 AM on 02/09/2012

I can't see any help coming until after November with a new President for us.

[billregalado]

10:53 AM on 02/09/2012

Let's qualify your statement. The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is ignoring their request.
Holder and Obama are ignoring the FEDERAL law to guard the border.
Doesn't that make you wonder why ?
What was it that Obama wrote in one of his books ? If a problem ever arises between America and Muslims, I will side with the Muslims.
Hamas has established bases in Mexico.

[looneydoone]

07:07 PM on 02/09/2012

>>"Hamas has established bases in Mexico"

That requires a credible link....got one ? Or should I not wait ??

[arakuzi]

11:03 PM on 02/08/2012

mass graves? of ten?.....I was expecting at least couple hundred for the use of "mass graves"

[Ladyrain59]

11:36 PM on 02/08/2012

Since the U.S. is withdrawing its soldiers from other countries, why don't we send some to the boarders, set up camp there-Then I'd like to see how many drugs and illegals will cross! We can put an end to this very easily.

[UTARebel]

02:10 AM on 02/09/2012

Well, that would also help the unemployment by keeping them in the service. Good idea, Lady.

[greeneyes51654m]

02:11 AM on 02/09/2012

I agree, but Obama and holder will never let that happen. Fan #2

[gregory57]

11:08 AM on 02/09/2012

Ten Mexicans, no less. Nobody is gonna let a few dead cockroaches spoil the drug war bonanza. There's too much money to be made.