Bodies found without hearts

MEXICAN police discovered six dead bodies in a cavern near the tourist resort of Cancun, three of them cut open with their hearts removed.

Authorities are investigating the identities of the four men and two women found in the natural cave, said Francisco Alor, the Quintana Roo state attorney general.

“They were apparently tortured and their chests were opened to remove the hearts,” Mr Alor’s office said in a statement.

Three of the bodies had the letter Z carved on their abdomens – a possible reference to the Zeta drug gang, though officials did not make an explicit connection to the cartel violence that has plagued many parts of Mexico.