WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Drivers were left horrified after they found six severed heads along a road connecting two Mexican states.

Police were called to the scene on a route passing between Puebla and Tlaxcala, areas that are generally considered peaceful and are not typically associated with cartel violence.

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Information about the motive of the killings, or which criminal groups they may be connected to, has not been made available by authorities yet.

Local media reported that the grim discovery was made on Tuesday. A blanket was left at the scene, which contained a warning message to rival gangs, reportedly signed by a group called “La Barredora”.

The name belongs to a relatively unknown criminal group that operates out of a state in Mexico’s West called Guerrero, but it remains uncertain if the group was behind the attack, the BBC reported.

The heads found on the Tlaxcala portion of the road were those of men, and an investigation has been launched into their deaths.

Federal authorities have not released any statements on the findings.

This comes as other areas in Mexico continue to suffer from extreme cartel violence.

Sinaloa had its most violent day of 2025 on August 10 when 17 homicides were recorded.

An outbreak of violence in the region has been reported since the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who local authorities say was the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, on July 25, 2024.

Following his arrest, homicides in the area have risen by more than 400 per cent, CNN reported.

Conflict has increased because of rival factions within the cartel, which has left locals caught in the crossfire and forced businesses to close.

On August 14, the US Treasury announced sanctions against two other Mexican cartels, the United Cartels (Carteles Unidos) and Los Viagras alongside seven people “linked to terrorism, drug trafficking and extortion in Mexico’s agricultural sector”.

Scott Bessent, the US Secretary of the Treasury, said the action draws attention to the diverse and insidious ways that cartels engage in violent activities and exploit otherwise legitimate dealings.

“Treasury, alongside our partners in US law enforcement, will continue to target every effort by the cartels to generate revenue for their violent, criminal schemes,” he said.