Body Found in Village Near Highway
Threatening Note Left Beside the Victim
A local journalist who reported on the crimes of drug cartels in Mexico has been killed.
According to Mexican daily newspapers El Financiero and El Sol de Mexico on October 27 (local time), the Durango State Prosecutor's Office confirmed on October 25 that the body found in a village near the Durango-Mazatlan Highway was that of Miguel Angel Beltran, a 60-year-old local journalist.
When discovered, the body had been wrapped in a blanket and abandoned, with a note left nearby stating, "This is what happens when you slander the people of Durango."
During his lifetime, Beltran mainly worked as a sports journalist for local media in Durango, but also covered social issues. In the past, he served as a spokesperson for the Durango branch of the Mexican teachers' union (SNTE). Recently, he had been posting frequently on his blog and social networking services, with his most recent post reportedly covering the local drug trafficking cartel.
The Durango Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case, suspecting that members of a drug trafficking organization are responsible.
Mexico is home to powerful criminal organizations such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, making it one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.
According to AFP, citing Reporters Without Borders (RSF), more than 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1994. It is estimated that at least seven journalists have died this year alone due to work-related reasons.
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