1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
CrimeMexico

Conflicts between cartels leave five women dead in Mexico

November 5, 2022

Three of the women were found in bags, next to a hand-written message from the leader of a drug gang — the latest in the wave of crime against women in Mexico.

Police investigators in forensic suits inspect a crime scene in Mexico
The bodies were found in different spots across Cuautla, a known spot for weekend getaways Image: Jesus Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images

Five women were found dead on Friday, in Morelos, the latest victims in the rising tide of gender-based violence in the southern Mexican state.

Their bodies were found in different spots across the city of Cuautla, known as a weekend getaway spot for residents of Mexico City. The women were likely killed in disputes related to organized crime, according to Uriel Carmona, attorney general of the state.

Three of the bodies were found in bags with a hand-written message from a gang leader, claiming the killings were carried out against a rivals. Another two bodies, including one of a transgender woman, showed telltale signs of gangland killings, Carmona said in an interview to a news network. 

Mexico: Disfigured by acid attacks

03:19

This browser does not support the video element.

Rising violence against women

The killings come at the heel of Mexico City investigating the death of 27-year-old Ariadna Fernanda Lopez, who was found dead on a highway in Morelos, earlier in the week. The initial auopsy showed Lopez died of alcohol intoxication.

In Mexico, the rate of crime and violence against women has risen drastically in the last five years.

Seven out of ten women report experiencing some form of violence, according to a survey published by the statistics office. The same survey found that an average of 10 women are killed in Mexico every day. Tens of thousands are missing. 

The country recently made gains towards enforcing measures aimed at tackling gender-based  New penalties could result in 22 years in jail for acid attacks against women and five years in jail for sexual harassment.

mk/ar (AP, Reuters)

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW