12 Bodies Found in Clandestine Graves in Mexico’s Chihuahua State

Mexican authorities have discovered 12 bodies buried in clandestine graves in the northern state of Chihuahua, a region long plagued by violence tied to organized crime and drug trafficking. The bodies were found in 11 graves in Ascension municipality, near the U.S. border, following tracking operations conducted on December 18, 19, and 20. The state prosecutor’s office confirmed the discovery in a statement, noting that the skeletons and other evidence have been sent to Ciudad Juarez for forensic analysis.

Chihuahua, a key route for drug trafficking and migrant smuggling, has been severely impacted by criminal violence for years. Official figures report that the state has 3,927 missing persons since 1952. Nationwide, Mexico has experienced over 450,000 deaths related to drug violence since 2006, when the government began deploying the military to combat drug cartels. The states of Jalisco and Tamaulipas have also been significantly affected, each recording over 13,000 missing persons in the same period.