Mexican police find 6 decapitated men in drug cartel-plagued western state of Michoacan

6 men found decapitated in western Mexico state

MORELIA, Mexico — Mexican authorities have found the decapitated bodies of six men in the western state of Michoacan, a hotspot of drug violence.

A statement issued Friday by Michoacan state prosecutors says the bodies and heads were found inside an SUV in the town of Apatzingan. It says the bodies of unidentified men had threatening messages written on the backs.

Michoacan is the cradle of La Familia cartel, which authorities blame for a string of recent beheadings.

President Felipe Calderon first launched his crackdown on drug cartels in Michoacan, sending thousands of federal police and soldiers to his home state after taking office in late 2006.

Drug violence has killed more than 15,000 people throughout Mexico since then.