The decapitated bodies of nine people, some identified as army soldiers, were found Sunday in the southern state of Guerrero.

The bodies were discovered on a federal highway, the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) of Guerrero said in a news release.

Earlier Sunday, local police found nine heads in a shopping center in Chilpancingo, the capital city of Guerrero.

An initial investigation showed that the nine apparently were executed by drug traffickers because a message saying: "For each one you kill, I will kill 10" was found near the heads.

One of the victims was identified as Simon Wences Martinez, the former director of the Chilpancingo Municipal Police, official sources said.

Chilpancingo Mayor Mario Moreno Arcos confirmed Sunday that Wences Martinez had been kidnapped at midday Saturday.

The 41st Infantry Battalion of the 35th Military Zone is based in Chilpancingo. Local police said soldiers leaving the military base on Saturday were intercepted randomly.

Mexico has been hit by a rising wave of drug-fueled violence. Local press estimated that more than 5,300 people have died in organized crime-related killings so far in 2008.

President Felipe Calderon two years ago began a war against organized crime and drug trafficking in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2008)