On Sunday, December 3, 2023, the bodies of five young men, believed to be students at the Latina University of Mexico, were discovered inside a vehicle on a dirt road on the outskirts of Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The area, known for its frequent drug cartel activities, witnessed yet another incident of violence. Though unconfirmed, the students reportedly bore gunshot wounds, according to initial findings, pending official confirmation from prosecutors.
The site of this discovery, located near a university, has been thrust into the spotlight of a major investigative operation.
Responding to the incident, Guanajuato’s Governor Diego Sinhue Rodríguez has announced an “exhaustive” investigation to determine the circumstances of these deaths.
This recent event is reminiscent of a significant incident in June in Celaya, where a car bomb attack, aimed at law enforcement, resulted in the death of a National Guard officer. The authorities attributed this act of violence to the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a group engaged in a fierce territorial dispute with the rival Jalisco cartel.
The finding of these bodies adds a new chapter to the ongoing narrative of cartel-related violence in the region. The victims’ identities and the motive behind their killings are still under investigation by the authorities. The prolonged conflict between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco cartels has led to an increase in violence and insecurity in Guanajuato, affecting the state’s overall safety and stability.
