Mexican marines found the dumped bodies of 72 people at a rural location in northern Mexico following a shootout with suspected drug cartel gunmen that left one marine and three suspects dead, the navy reported late on Tuesday.
The cadavers of 58 men and 14 women were found at a spot near the Gulf coast south of the border city of Matamoros. It appears to be the largest drug cartel body dumping ground found in Mexico since Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against drug trafficking in late 2006.
The discovery of bodies came about when marines manning a checkpoint on a highway in northern Tamaulipas state were approached by a wounded man who said he had been attacked by cartel gunmen at a nearby ranch. The man was placed under the protection of federal authorities.
Navy aircraft were dispatched to the scene. When the gunmen saw them, they opened fire on the marines and tried to flee in a convoy of vehicles.
In the ensuing shootout, one marine and three suspected gunmen were killed. Navy personnel seized 21 assault rifles, shotguns and rifles, and detained a minor, who was handed over to prosecutors.
When marines searched the area, they found the bodies. It was unclear whether the victims had been killed at the same time or when they were found.
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