Cubans arrested for decapitations in Mexico

Following the grisly discovery last month of 12 headless bodies in southern Mexico, two Cubans have been arrested for alleged involvement, according to Times wire reports.

The Cuban man and woman were arrested on a beach in Cancun and investigators say that they are part of a group called the Zetas -- a paramilitary criminal gang that operates as a hired army for the Mexican Gulf cartel. Mexican police also raided a house, seizing an assault rifle, a grenade and ammunition. Police acted after questioning three Mexicans.

Ken Ellingwood of The Times reported in August:

In a sign of the spreading violence in Mexico, 11 decapitated bodies were found late Thursday near the colonial city of Merida on the Yucatan peninsula, officials said.

The bodies bore signs of torture and some were unclothed. Yucatan state officials said a 12th decapitated body was found later about 120 miles south of Merida, a city that is often used as a tourist gateway to the famed Maya ruins at Chichen Itza.

Warring drug gangs have routinely decapitated rivals during the last two years as they battle for coveted routes for smuggling drugs into the United States.

Read here for more on Mexico, and here for more on the drug trade across Latin America.

Go here for our report on Mexico's specific drug problems and violence -- Mexico Under Siege.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City