Families were seen enjoying the sun on popular nearby beaches when three tortured bodies were suddenly washed up onto the sand.
It was tourists who spotted the three men in Acapulco, Mexico, and contacted authorities who removed the bodies without closing the area.
Acapulco, once famed for its beaches and celebrity tourists, has long since suffered from violent crime with 120 murders in the city during the first four months of this year.
The first two bodies were found on Condesa beach last Saturday while the other was on Icacos beach nearby.
And only the day before a lifeguard was also found dead on another Acapulco beach.
Images show the bodies of the tortured men lying on the beach while tourists continue to lap up the waves.
One of the bodies found on Condesa beach had his legs and arms tied and attached to a cement anchor while the man found in Icacos had been shot in the neck.
A police statement from the region of Guerrero (FGE) read: “The FGE is investigating the murders carried out in the port of Acapulco.
“State prosecutors have opened an investigation file for those responsible, for the crimes of murder by firearm, for attacking two men and for murder, for attacking a man, in events that took place on different beach in the city and the port of Acapulco.”
Acapulco has become a battleground for rival drug gangs with Adrian Olivas Franco, secretary for public safety, saying last September that the Sinaloa Cartel, the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) and the Acapulco Independent Cartel (CIDA) were all operating in the area.
“There are the Acapulco Independent Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel and the New Generation Jalisco Cartel - it can be seen that there are the biggest criminal groups that are involved,” he said, reported local media.
“These groups have been here for a time and they are trying to maintain control along with groups that are established in certain areas of the city. It is clear that these criminal groups are settling scores which have seen the number of murders soar and it gives a bad image for Acapulco."
On November 5, four dismembered bodies, three men and a woman were found on the side of the road nearby in Guerrero state with threatening messages left beside them.
And the same day three members of an indigenous organization (CIPOG-EZ) were also murdered.
While the Mexican navy intercepted narco boats with three tonnes of cocaine on board off the coast of Guerrero with 12 people caught on November 3.
