Zacatecas violence resurges after discovery of bodies hanging from bridge

The discovery of five bodies hanging from a bridge in Pozos de Gamboa, a small bean-producing village in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, has disrupted a recent period of declining violence. The victims include a former mayor, government officials, and entrepreneurs. Five additional bodies were reportedly found in the surrounding area.

Zacatecas had previously seen a significant reduction in intentional homicides, dropping from 1,300 in 2022 to 144 in 2025 according to official figures. However, this incident has reignited fear in the region, which serves as a strategic corridor for drug trafficking to the United States. The area is currently a site of violent conflict between the Jalisco Nueva Generación and Sinaloa cartels.

Local authorities have promised a firm response and have requested assistance from the military and the National Guard. Residents report a pervasive sense of fear and a lack of visible security presence on local roads. Academic Cristela Trejo characterized the event as a symptom of "structural violence" involving the intersection of organized crime and state institutions.