Authorities in Puerto Rico have launched a large-scale murder investigation after the bodies of five men—found naked and showing signs of torture—were discovered in two locations on the island.
Three of the bodies were found piled up near a church in Carolina, just east of the capital city San Juan, on Tuesday. That same day, two more bodies were discovered under similar circumstances in Santurce, San Juan. Police believe the two incidents may be linked, with early investigations pointing toward possible connections to drug trafficking.
“All five bodies had similar markings,” said Police Superintendent Joseph González, who told local newspaper El Nuevo Día that while drug-related motives are suspected, other possibilities are not being ruled out.
One of the victims has been identified as an 18-year-old man, while the other four remain unidentified. Reports indicate that two victims had their hands tied behind their backs, two had gunshot wounds, and one had a severed finger.
Investigators suspect that the men found in Carolina were killed elsewhere and later dumped at the scene, as their bodies showed traces of sand and dirt. González also said there were signs the victims had been dragged, and police in San Juan recovered bullet casings nearby.
“This level of violence is not common in Puerto Rico,” González stated. “Yes, we’ve seen similar scenes before, but we are not going to allow it. All units are out on the streets to resolve this case.”
Mabel Olivera, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIC) in Carolina, said that “absolutely nothing is ruled out in the investigation,” while Edwin Figueroa, director of the CIC in San Juan, confirmed that both cases share “similar characteristics.”
Police have deployed multiple specialized divisions—including Drug Enforcement, Intelligence, and Stolen Vehicles units—to identify the victims and uncover the motive behind the killings.
Puerto Rico, home to around 3.2 million people, has long served as a major transit point for narcotics heading to the U.S. mainland and beyond. As of this week, the island has recorded 344 homicides so far this year—slightly fewer than the 379 reported during the same period in 2024.
