The police in Mexico found the remains of at least 13 people, packed in refrigerators in two buildings in an area ravaged by violence linked to drug gangs in Veracruz state.

Authorities stated that the police arrested six suspected individuals following this horrific discovery in the city of Poza Rica in the state.

Veronica Hernandez, the chief prosecutor in Veracruz, said that investigations are still underway to determine the number of those involved in the killings and their identities.

She added that the number of bodies, according to preliminary investigations, "could unfortunately be more than that."

Agence France-Presse quoted officials who requested anonymity, stating that this discovery occurred on Sunday while the police were pursuing a suspect who had hidden in a building where three kidnapped victims were being held.

The police then launched pursuits in the area and found more bodies in other locations, according to the officials.

Veracruz, an oil-rich state, is located in the eastern part of the country along the Gulf of Mexico coast, and is a hub for human and drug trafficking, in addition to some other criminal activities.

It is one of the most violent areas in Mexico due to fighting between rival gangs for control of lucrative drug trafficking routes into the United States.