The Jalisco New Generation Cartel appears to have left a lifeless body hanging from a bridge in Tijuana in northwest Mexico, accompanied by a chilling message to its rivals
A major Mexican drug cartel appears to have left a lifeless body hanging from a bridge accompanied by a chilling message.
The body of a man was discovered on a bridge in Tijuana, Baja California, in northwest Mexico, on Wednesday morning. A banner, apparently signed by the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was found next to the victim. Authorities received reports at 6.40am of the sighting on the Tijuana-Tecate highway and Paseo San Pedro, according to the local newspaper Zeta. Police confirmed the victim showed visible signs of violence.
The banner identified a person referred to as “Cabezón” – Spanish for “big head” – and indicated he was being left for his people. “What’s up, bast*** … here I’m leaving your people for you, big head!!! The one in charge with your ranchero. FROM: CJNG,” the banner read. Around 100 metres from the bridge, state agents discovered a black plastic box with a yellow lid containing human remains, Zeta reports.
Authorities cordoned off the area to conduct investigations and secure the scene. No further details about the victim or the cause of death have been released.
Tijuana has already recorded more than 40 homicides this month, including this incident. According to Zeta, criminal organisations often hang the bodies of their rivals in public places so that they can be seen by members of the public. In June last year, 20 bodies were found on a highway overpass in Culiacán, Sinaloa, some decapitated. The Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office reported that four decapitated bodies and a bag containing five heads were found on the El Semanario overpass.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel was formed in 2009, emerging from the Milenio Cartel as a splinter group led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”. Cervantes is one of the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) most wanted people, with the US Department of State offering a reward of up to $15million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Last week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum released new data showing daily homicides have dropped by 40 per cent since she took office, as she faces pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on organised crime.
Mexico recorded 17.5 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2025, according to the government. This marks a drop from the 29.1 homicides per 100,000 residents recorded in 2018 and 25.4 homicides per 100,000 in 2024.
Sheinbaum’s government has extradited dozens of cartel leaders to the US and cooperated on border enforcement, but is strongly opposed to any military intervention from outside. US President Donald Trump said last week that land attacks against drug cartels would follow recent US operations in the Pacific and Caribbean.
Sheinbaum said on Monday that she told Trump any US troop deployment in Mexico was “not on the table” when he “said something along the lines of: ‘If you want us to help you more with our forces in Mexico’”. “We spoke about various topics, including security with respect for our sovereignties, reducing drug trafficking, trade and investments,” she added on social media.
