Five bodies hanging from bridge revive Mexico town's drug war fears

In the Mexican state of Zacatecas, a small town named Pozos de Gamboa woke up to an eerie sight on July 18 - five bodies hanging from a bridge. This chilling imagery signified that the bloodshed from the drug war in the region had not entirely vanished. Pozos de Gamboa, a town of 5,000 people known for growing beans, had been experiencing a period of relative calm in recent years.

However, the recent incident left the residents terrified and living in fear. No one dared to venture out after dark, and there was a marked reluctance to discuss the grim event that unfolded on that fateful morning.

Zacatecas plays a crucial role in the drug trade as it serves as a link between central Mexico and the northern and western regions of the country. The state, with a population of 1.6 million, has been plagued by narcotics-related violence, with rival gangs battling for control. However, the situation in Zacatecas had seemingly improved, with killings dropping from around 1,300 in 2022 to just 144 in 2025. The government credited the decline to better coordination between state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Unfortunately, the calm spell was disrupted by the shocking discovery of the bodies hanging from the bridge. The victims included a former mayor, civil servants, and businesspeople from various parts of the state. Additionally, five other bodies were found in different locations within Pozos de Gamboa on the same day. Two of Mexico's largest drug cartels, Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa, were vying for control of the state due to its strategic value in the US-bound drug trade.

In response to the killings, prosecutors launched an investigation, and the state government vowed to take immediate and forceful action. They called for assistance from the army and the National Guard to enhance security in the region. During an AFP visit to Pozos de Gamboa, it was observed that, while there were no roadblocks along the route from the state capital, the town felt deserted, with no one out on the street once the sun set.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, aptly described the town as resembling a "ghost town."

The atmosphere in Pozos de Gamboa was bleak, with many residents having lost relatives or acquaintances to drug violence. People routinely went missing, and it was common for their bodies to be disposed of in ways that prevented foul smells from emanating. The bridge where the bodies were found had been a common spot for drug cartels to leave grim messages in the past.

One eyewitness witnessed the bodies hanging as early as 4 am, evoking memories of the darkest days of Mexico's drug wars when the government deployed federal forces to combat the cartels. In turn, the crime gangs retaliated by hanging bodies from bridges or dumping them in public places to intimidate rivals and security forces. President Claudia Sheinbaum's government took notice of the incident and vowed to apprehend those responsible.

The leftist president has deployed soldiers in violence-plagued states such as Sinaloa and Michoacan, facing pressure from US President Donald Trump to intervene directly to prevent drugs from crossing the border into the United States.