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Mass Grave Discovered After YouTube Tip-Off
2:28pm Thursday November 04, 2010
Gary Mitchell
Police in Mexico have recovered 18 bodies from a mass grave amid a surge of suspected drug-related violence.
They had been buried in woodland in a rural area near Acapulco. Reports suggest the graves could contain the bodies of 20 missing men who were reportedly abducted at gunpoint while visiting the city more than a month ago. Officials said more bodies could be found at the site and the search will resume later.
They began digging after receiving an anonymous tip-off which led them to discover two bodies on Tuesday. Hours earlier, a video appeared on YouTube in which two men, whose arms were apparently tied behind their backs, said they killed 20 men from the neighbouring state of Michoacan.
Reports suggest the victims could be men who were kidnapped in September
They claimed they had been buried in the same area. More than 30 people have died in separate violent attacks in Acapulco in the past 10 days. A Canadian businessman disappeared there last week and is feared dead after his rental car was found with an unidentified burned body in the boot. Suspected drug violence has left more than 28,000 people dead nationwide since the launch of a military clampdown on organised crime in 2006.
Meanwhile, US and Mexican authorities have discovered a 550m (1,800ft) tunnel linking the two countries and used for smuggling drugs. It has a rail system, lighting and ventilation and connected warehouses in Otay Mesa on the US side and Tijuana, just inside Mexico. Officials also seized 25 tons of cannabis. At least six underground tunnels were discovered in 2009 and Mexican officials say some were designed to smuggle drugs or migrants.
