On Monday, July 20, the government of Zacatecas acknowledged the presence of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel in the state. This statement was made during a press conference convened after the discovery of ten bodies in the municipalities of Pánuco, Morelos, and Sain Alto on Saturday, July 18.
State authorities indicated that the investigation aims to determine which of the two groups was behind the violent episode. Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, the Secretary General of Government, reported that all ten victims—all male, with eight from Zacatecas and two from Durango—had been identified.
Eight died from asphyxiation or strangulation, while only two died from gunshot wounds.
During the event, Governor David Monreal expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and stated: “Whoever ordered—or whoever ordered and carried out—this act of barbarism will pay for it.”
For his part, General Mayoral, the Secretary of Public Security for Zacatecas, delivered the most forceful remarks of the conference. He described those responsible as “vile,” “repugnant,” “deranged,” and “cowardly,” emphasizing that they acted as a mob against individuals who had no opportunity to defend themselves.
