Mexico records more than 33,000 murders in 2018

Mexico recorded more than 33,000 murders in 2018, the highest number since the country began keeping records.

CNN reports there were 33,341 homicides in 2018, according to a report released by Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.

The number of femicides ‑‑ the killing of females because of their gender ‑‑ also climbed, reaching 861 in 2018, compared with 759 in 2017.    

Many of the homicides are linked to drug cartel violence.

The Mexican government has been fighting a war with drug traffickers since 2006.

At the same time, drug cartels have fought each other for control of territory.

In 2017, Mexican authorities uncovered a mass grave with more than 250 skulls, most likely the victims of drugs cartels over the years.

[Source: CNN]