Ten bodies found in Zacatecas, Mexico, five hung under bridge with cartel message

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, authorities in the Mexican state of Zacatecas discovered ten bodies in the municipalities of Panucho, Morelos and Saint Alto. Five of the victims were found hanging beneath a bridge, accompanied by a written message that authorities say appears to be from a drug cartel.

The municipal government confirmed that one of the deceased was former mayor and local businessman Ignacio Castrehón Valdez. State and federal law‑enforcement agencies—including the Attorney General's Office, the National Guard, state police and forensic teams—have been deployed to the sites, and a joint investigative task force was convened to determine responsibility. No arrests have been reported and the identities of the other victims have not been released. The incident occurs amid a broader pattern of cartel‑related killings in Zacatecas, a region contested by criminal groups for control of drug‑trafficking routes.

Officials have called for an immediate and strong response, increasing police presence in the area and pledging further resources to locate those responsible.