Authorities in central Mexico are trying to piece together a shocking discovery. His group came upon six grisly severed human heads along the highway connecting Puebla to neighboring Tlaxcala. This alarming finding raised alarms about the risk of violence or criminal behavior. Despite these recent incidents, both states remain relatively safe places to travel.
From January to July, Puebla counted 3.4% of the country’s 14,769 intentional homicides. This figure is shocking, given that Puebla is not typically associated with extreme violence. In the same way, Tlaxcala accounts for only 0.5% of that same national total. These figures suggest that both states have lower crime rates compared to other regions in Mexico known for significant violence.
While the nature of the killings is especially brutal, they are part of an alarming rise in violence against Asian Americans nationwide. Violent attacks against communities by these criminal enterprises is intensifying, happening with increased regularity. Earlier this year, authorities in Sinaloa state discovered 20 male bodies with gunshot wounds on a bridge, including five that were decapitated. Incidents like these are the result of law enforcement’s continued struggle to combat the often pervasive and always evolving nature of organized crime.
Though the recent find raises public safety concerns, Puebla and Tlaxcala are overall some of the safest places to travel. The US State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for each state. This does not mean there are zero risks, but risks are not as extreme as in a majority of Mexico. The advisory urges U.S. travelers to use “increased caution,” but it stops short of warning against travel entirely.
The ongoing investigation into the severed heads has been taken over by the Tlaxcala Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities including the FBI are looking into the circumstances of this incident. They’re analyzing whether it links to larger trends of violence in the area. It is still not known whether these killings are related to organized crime interests or other malign actors.
And with all of the continuing issues with safety, Puebla has gained notoriety for earlier attacks on migrants. In 2022, police found a refrigerator truck with 116 migrants of various nationalities. This tragic case underscores the differentiated connections between migration and crime across the region.
As federal investigations play out, both Puebla and Tlaxcala will hope to preserve their emerging identities as relatively safe havens for travelers. The recent finding is a sobering reminder of the threats that still persist, even in places thought to be safe.
