Mexican official: 250 skulls found in clandestine graves

Mass burial ground on the outskirts of the city of Veracruz (The Associated Press)

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In this April 11, 2015 photo, special investigators guard bodies found in mass graves in a wooded area known as Colinas de Santa Fe on the outskirts of Veracruz, Mexico. Veracruz state's top prosecutor, Jorge Winckler, said the clandestine pits appeared to contain remains of cartel victims killed years ago. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (The Associated Press)

In this April 11, 2015 photo, a federal police officer walks in an area known as Colinas de Santa Fe on the outskirts of Veracruz, Mexico. More than 250 skulls have been found in early 2017 in what appears to be a drug cartel mass burial ground in this wooded area on the outskirts of the city of Veracruz, prosecutors said Tuesday, March 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) (The Associated Press)

MEXICO CITY – The top prosecutor in Mexico's Gulf coast state of Veracruz says more than 250 skulls have been found in what appears to be a drug cartel mass burial ground on the outskirts of the city of Veracruz.

State Prosecutor Jorge Winckler says the clandestine burial pits appear to contain the victims of drug cartels killed years ago.

In an interview Tuesday with the Televisa network, Winckler did not specify when the skulls were found or by whom.

But victims' advocacy groups like Colectivo Solecito have excavated and pressed authorities to excavate such sites to find missing loved ones.

Winckler said excavations have covered only a third of the lot where the skulls were found, and more people may be buried there.

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