Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Mexican authorities have announced the discovery of 12 bodies buried in graves in the northern state of Chihuahua.

What’s the deal: According to the Chihuahua State Prosecutor’s Office, the remains of 12 individuals were discovered in 11 graves in the municipality of Ascension, a remote area approximately 110 miles west of Ciudad Juarez, near the US border. The graves were found during a three-day search operation that began on December 18. The exhumations revealed skeletal remains and shell casings of various calibers, which were collected and processed by forensic experts. The remains, along with the evidence, were sent to forensic laboratories in Ciudad Juarez to determine the identities of the victims.

Chihuahua, a hotspot for violence and organized crime, has long been a key corridor for drug trafficking and migrant smuggling into the United States. Since 1952, the state has recorded 3,927 missing persons. When looking more broadly, more than 120,000 people have been reported missing in Mexico, with many believed to be dead as a result of the escalating cartel violence.

This all comes as cartel violence in Mexico has shown little sign of decline over the last three years, with organized crime groups continuing to assert control over key trafficking routes and regions. President-Elect Donald Trump has threatened to designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, a move that could result in the United States military conducting operations against the cartels.