A Mexican court has convicted 11 former police officers for the murder of a group of migrants near the US border in 2021. The victims’ bodies, totaling 17, were discovered in a burned-out vehicle in Camargo, Tamaulipas state.
Investigations revealed that they fell victim to a turf war among criminal groups vying for control of migrant smuggling routes in the region.
Annually, thousands of individuals from Central America undertake the arduous journey through Mexico with the goal of reaching the United States. In January 2021, authorities found a total of 19 charred bodies inside the vehicle in Camargo.
Sixteen of the victims hailed from Guatemala, one from Honduras, and two were Mexican traffickers transporting them to the border. Forensic analysis confirmed that they were shot before the vehicle was set on fire.
Initially, a total of 12 officers were facing murder charges, but one of them chose to cooperate with investigators, resulting in a conviction for abuse of power instead.
Among the victims was Marvin Tomás, a 22-year-old football player hailing from Comitancillo, Guatemala.
Tragically, the killing of migrants is a distressingly common occurrence in Mexico. In 2010, a horrific incident saw the murder of 72 migrants in San Fernando, also situated in Tamaulipas state. In 2012, the discovery of 49 dismembered bodies in Cadereyta, Nuevo León, further underscored this grim reality.
The Zetas cartel exercises significant control over this region and is known to target migrants attempting to pass through without paying fees to the gang.
Cartels routinely enlist municipal and state police officers, often through a combination of lucrative incentives and threats, to either turn a blind eye to their activities or actively facilitate safe passage.