La Barredora Cartel Linked to Gruesome Road Killings in Central Mexico

Authorities confirmed that a banner found at the scene accused a criminal cell of extortion and homicides. The message was signed by La Barredora, a well-known criminal group involved in fuel theft. (Credit: Via e-ntorno)

Just last week, Mexican authorities released a report ranking states by the total number of homicides reported between January and July 2025. Among the five states with the lowest number of homicides was Tlaxcala, one of the smallest in Mexico, which recorded only 75 killings during that period.

However, according to recent findings, the relatively peaceful state was the site of a serious crime that has put residents on high alert. On Aug. 19, the Tlaxcala Attorney General's Office reported that authorities had discovered six severed heads along a highway connecting Tlaxcala with the neighboring state of Puebla.