14 headless bodies found in Mexico

Police in Mexico have found the headless bodies of 14 men outside a shopping centre in the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco.

Officers in the southern state of Guerrero say handwritten signs were left with the bodies, a common calling card of Mexico’s cartels.

In keeping with a policy designed not to give the cartels publicity, state police did not release the text of the messages found with the bodies.

But Reforma newspaper reported that they referred to the Sinaloa cartel, headed by drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Reforma said the messages apparently indicated the victims were killed by the Sinaloa cartel for trying to intrude on the gang’s turf and extort residents.

Acapulco has seen bloody turf battles between drug gangs in recent years.

The bodies are the largest single group of decapitation victims since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against cartels in late 2006.

In 2008, a group of 12 decapitated bodies were found outside the Yucatan state capital of Merida. The same year, nine decapitated men were found in the Guerrero state capital of Chilpancingo.

At least 30,196 people have died in drug-related violence since the president launched the anti-cartel offensive.