Guerrero law enforcement officials say the victims appear to have been gagged and the bodies were discovered around midnight near a police station. The officials were not authorised to be quoted by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The area is near Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero. The state has been the scene of drug gang turf battles, kidnappings and extortions, and groups of bodies are often found dumped on roadsides.