At least 15 bodies have surfaced in a town near Guadalajara, Jalisco. The victims were found along a highway near the town of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos, which is about 45 minutes south of Guadalajara.

Messages were left with the bodies addressed to the Sinaloa Cartel. They were signed by the Zetas-Milenio Cartel alliance. All the bodies were decapitated and tortured.

The Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel continue their cross country battle, while aligning themselves with other local cartels. Mass killings have occurred over the last several months against each other, in their own respective home territories. Both groups are trying to exert their national dominance, by attempting to control Mexico’s drug market from coast to coast.

The Zetas from northeast Mexico are working with the Milenio Cartel, which has roots in western Mexico with the Sinaloa, La Familia, and Valencia Cartels. They now have a sole allegiance to the Zetas, which has helped the Milenio Cartel with finances, weapons, and manpower. They are based in Guadalajara.

The Sinaloa Cartel, from western Mexico, are working with Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG spanish acronym). For the most part the CJNG is the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel, used to fight the Zetas in many parts of Mexico.

Guadalajara is an important city in Mexico as far as the drug trade, considering its location. It is the stop point once you go inward from many important smuggling ports. It has traditionally been known as one of the safest cities in Mexico, but recent violence over the last year has began to tarnish that reputation. While Mexico City is still is off limits for most cartel activity, Guadalajara has become an important hot spot for controlling of western and southern Mexico.

Recent reports have emerged that the Arellano-Félix Organization (Tijuana Cartel) has joined forces with the Zetas to combat the Sinaloa Cartel. The development is not completely new, as a few years ago the two organizations worked together from time to time.

A gunfight in Sinaloa that was led by the Zetas, and backed up by the Tijuana Cartel and the previously low-key Beltran-Leyva Cartel, appears to show all three groups uniting to stomp into the home of the Sinaloa Cartel. At least 20 men were killed, including a Mexican Air-Force officer. Two gun battles occurred separately near the mountainous town of Choix, Sinaloa.

The Tijuana Cartel had previously appeared to succumb to the power of the Sinaloa Cartel after losing recurrent battles on its own turf. The Tijuana Cartel was still operating, but seemed to be under the hand of the Sinaloa Cartel. Urban battles between the cartels still occurred, but the structural layout of smuggling narcotics was worked out between the two. If the recent reports are true, this could be a turn towards more violence in the Baja area. As the Zetas attempt to extend their reach across Mexico, and the Tijuana Cartel attempts to survive, the teamwork may seem like obvious choices for both.

The remnants of the Beltran-Leyva cartel in Sinaloa would also provide beneficial to the Tijuana Cartel and Zetas connection. The group still has a presence in Sinaloa, and very good connections.

On the other side of the country, the Sinaloa Cartel has recently claimed ownership of the Zetas border home-base in Nuevo Laredo. Multiple mass killings and a car bomb have emphasized that El Chapo’s men are in the city. The Zetas have disputed this idea and claim that they are still in full control. The back and forth attacks against their own territories has only escalated.

The Sinaloa Cartel has united with multiple other groups to combat the Zetas as well. The Gulf Cartel, Jalisco Cartel, and other smaller groups are operating with and under the wing of the Sinaloa Cartel in many areas.

Read more about events in Nuevo Laredo