Nine ‘students’ found dismembered with bag of hands after vanishing on holiday

It is suspected that the Mexican cartel is behind the murders.

The remains were found in the boot of an empty car in San Jose, Miahuatlan.

Five of those killed were found underneath a bloody tarp, with the other four crammed into the boot of the car.

The car - a dark grey Volkswagen Vento - was discovered on March 2nd alongside the Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca highway, three days after the victims went missing.

A bag with the severed hands of those murdered was also found in the car, as authorities suspect that this was a cartel killing.

It was originally reported that the nine bodies found were students, however, it has now been reported that they may have been members of a gang called 'Los Zacapoaxtlas'.

The bodies were found on the border of the Mexican states Puebla and Oaxaca, with the latter generally known for being a popular tourist destination.

Eight of the nine people found have been named as: Angie Lizeth, 29, Brenda Mariel, 19, Jacqueline Ailet, 23, Noemi Yamileth, 28, Lesly Noya Trejo, 21, Raul Emmanuel, 28, Ruben Antonio, and Rolando Armando. 

The ninth person is yet to be identified.

Speaking on Monday, Idamis Pastor Betancourt, head of Puebla's State Attorney General's Office said: "So far I cannot offer information. There are lines of investigation, but I cannot reveal them due to confidentiality.

"All relevant investigations are being carried out. 

"When we have a response and the investigation is complete, we will be in a position to provide more information."

Cartel violence has historically plagued Mexico, with 30,000 murders being carried out in the country in 2023.

Many of these were believed to be tied to cartel drug trafficking.