In a grim discovery, police on Mexico's Caribbean coast uncovered the bodies of four men, one of whom was a policeman, shot to death near a resort just south of Cancun. The victims, all with apparent gunshot wounds to the head, were found discarded near the highway leading out of Cancun, according to Luis Rodríguez Bucio, the assistant head of Mexico's Public Safety Department.

The disturbing scene took a chilling turn when a former Cancun police officer was caught at the location, rummaging through the pockets of one of the deceased men. He claimed to be a friend of the deceased and was promptly detained by the officers, revealed the authorities.

Among the victims was a Cancun police officer who had previously faced allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for safeguarding brothels. Despite the accusations, he was still a member of the force but had been on medical leave at the time of his untimely demise.

Authorities believe that the bodies, found on Thursday, may be connected to the illicit activities of providing protection for migrant smugglers. Additionally, Bucio mentioned the possibility of the killings being linked to a raid earlier this year, during which significant amounts of guns and drugs were seized from a property in Cancun.

The pervasive influence of drug cartels continues to cast a dark shadow across Mexico, where official reports indicate that over two-thirds of the 88 murders that occurred on Thursday nationwide were believed to be cartel-related. These criminal organizations relentlessly eliminate rivals to maintain their territorial control and protect their illicit businesses.

The Caribbean coast, particularly Cancun, serves as a hotspot for smugglers, who exploit the region's numerous foreign visitors and well-connected airline networks to transport migrants discreetly. In recent years, drug cartels have increasingly become involved in migrant smuggling and are also engaged in fierce battles for dominance in the drug trade within the resort areas along the coast.

As authorities investigate these heinous crimes, it is a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by drug cartels and the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect both locals and tourists on Mexico's Caribbean shores.