Authorities in Coahuila confirmed the discovery of more than 3,000 human bone fragments in a cartel killing field and incineration site. The remains were found in the southwestern part of the state; an area where the Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas fought for years.

The discovery was made earlier this month by members of the human rights organization, Group Vida, trying to find answers for the thousands of victims missing in Coahuila. According to information released by the state attorney gneral’s office, based on the accounts of various locals, the group carried out a search in the San Antonio Del Alto community near Matamoros, not far from the border with Durango.

During their search of the area, the group discovered 3,000 bone fragments believed to be human, a metal drum, and multiple bullet casings, authorities revealed. The discovery of the drum points to a longstanding practice by drug cartels where they use 55-gallon drums to incinerate human remains.

While Coahuila has historically been considered to be under the influence of Los Zetas–Durango is considered to be controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel.

The discovery comes a little over a year after as Breitbart Texas reported, another search by human rights groups yielded close to 3,500 bone fragments in a rural area north from where the most recent discovery was made.

The border state of Coahuila is the same area where a three-month investigation by Breitbart Texas revealed how Los Zetas were able to kidnap, murder, and incinerate more than 300 victims from the rural communities in and around the town of Allende. During the investigation, Breitbart Texas was able to confirm that about 150 of the victims were incinerated by Los Zetas in the state prison in Piedras Negras while corrupt state officials looked the other way. While Coahuila has made a point to arrest or go after a handful of lower-ranking Zeta members in connection with the massacre, high ranking officials who were complicit have avoided prosecution.

Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Stephen K. Bannon. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.

Brandon Darby is managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Stephen K. Bannon. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.