Zacatecas bridge bodies revive fear in Mexican town

Five bodies found hanging from a bridge in Pozos de Gamboa on July 18 have renewed fear in the Zacatecas town after a period of lower violence in the Mexican state.

Five other bodies were found elsewhere in the town of about 5,000 people on the same day. The victims included a former mayor, civil servants and business people from other parts of Zacatecas.

Prosecutors opened an investigation into the killings. The state government promised an immediate response and asked the army and National Guard to help reinforce security.

Residents described a town where people avoid going out after dark. One resident, who did not give his name because he feared for his safety, said the town felt empty and that by 9 p.m. no one was on the street.

Zacatecas links central Mexico with routes to the north and west, making it important to drug trafficking toward the United States. The Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels have been fighting for control of the state.

Government figures cited by AFP said killings in Zacatecas fell from around 1,300 in 2022 to 144 in 2025. The government has attributed the decline to better coordination between state and federal law enforcement officials.

President Claudia Sheinbaum's government has promised to arrest those responsible for the Pozos de Gamboa killings.