Nine more slaying victims found in Tijuana

TIJUANA, Mexico, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Tijuana police said nine more bodies were found Thursday as a bloody surge continues in the battle for control of the border city's drug trade.

Eight bodies were found facedown in a vacant lot in a residential neighborhood along with a sign mocking the person with whom they were apparently affiliated. Authorities told The San Diego Union-Tribune that all of the victims had been shot in the head.

A ninth body was found several miles away and it wasn't immediately known if he was connected to the other eight.

The killings came about a week after 16 bodies were found in the city. Signs indicated they were killed as part of the power struggle that began when the grip of the Arellano Felix gang weakened and outside smuggling rings muscled in.