Gunmen shot down two Mexican government helicopters on Monday, killing all five people aboard, as they set out to spray illegal opium poppy crops in the southern state of Guerrero on Monday. The helicopters were downed immediately after taking off to begin spraying crops near the small town of Xitopontla in a mountainous area, Estuardo Bermudez, special prosecutor for drug crimes, told reporters. Bermudez said the army and personnel from the Attorney General’s office were investigating at the site. Mexico is a major shipment route for South American cocaine heading to the United States and is also a big producer of marijuana and opium. The mountains of Guerrero are said to be a major production area. Xitopontla, the site of Monday’s incident, is a poor community where most people speak an Indian language and no Spanish, and the illiteracy rate is very high. The hamlet lies 18 miles from the closest town and is not accessible by car. Full Story
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