Special agents in Mexico will investigate what appears to be the murders of two Aust surfers in Sinaloa.
Charred ... Human remains were found in the burnt wreckage. Picture: Noroeste.com/Carlos Chaidez/Reuters
MEXICAN authorities have moved to assure the families of two Australian surfers feared murdered in cartel-plagued territory that a thorough investigation will take place.
DNA testing of remains found in a torched van on the side of the road in Navolato, Mexico, is underway after a registration cross check confirmed the vehicle belonged to Perth mates Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas.
It comes as new photos show the scale of the damage to the van, which appears to have been torched with the interior almost completely burnt out.
The numberplates were also stolen, but officials were able to identify the vehicle’s serial number.
Tragic discovery ... The inside of the van, containing two charred corpses, was gutted by fire. Picture: Noroeste.com/Carlos Chaidez/ReutersSource:Supplied
It is believed the surfers were travelling through the night in the deadly Mexican badlands and may have been caught in the cross hairs of a bloody weekend when drug cartels killed at least 16 people in the space of just days.
The violent murders are a common occurrence in the cartel-plagued state, which leaves locals to criticise authorities of not taking sufficient care with investigations.
Attorney General Marco Antonio Higuera Gomez vowed that those responsible would be punished.
Sorely missed ... The families of Adam Coleman, pictured lift, and Dean Lucas are trying to piece together what happened to them. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
“That’s one of the goals, to work to clarify this regrettable incident,” he said.
He also said a panel of investigators would be set up to track down the perpetrators.
Sinaloa governor Mario Lopez Valdez said the possible murder was a “bad look” for the state on an international level, which made it important that a quick and thorough investigation takes place.
“We will seek to shed light and find those responsible,” Mr Valdez told Mexican news site Noroeste.
Locals spoke yesterday of the danger of traversing those roads — particularly quieter roads.
Writing in Spanish, Alfredo Rosa described them as “almost suicidal (in) nature”.
“They (motorists) will be eaten,” he said.
Torched ... Police officers stand by the burnt-out van of Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
The end of the year is considered a particularly dangerous time in parts of Mexico, with gangs out to “settle scores”, authorities said.
The feared deaths of Mr Coleman and Mr Lucas are not the first of tourists in the region.
In 2014, the remains of New York banker Harry Devert were found in two plastic bags six months after he vanished.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the government would work closely with Mexican police to keep the families of the men in formed. She confirmed the vehicle belonged to Mr Coleman.
The girlfriends of the missing surfers have pledged to finish the trip they started before they disappeared.
In an emotional post to Facebook, Lucas’ girlfriend Josie Cox revealed she would finish the surfing trip with Andrea Domez, Coleman’s girlfriend.
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