A Mexican army soldier mans a gun on top of a vehicle while guarding the perimeter around the site of a state prosecutors convention in the Gulf port city of Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday Sept. 22, 2011. A gang known to be aligned with Mexico's most-wanted drug lord appears to be making a violent challenge to the dominant Zetas Cartel in the Gulf state of Veracruz, after they dumped 35 bodies last Sept. 20 on a busy avenue in front of horrified motorists near where the nation's top prosecutors were about to start a convention. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A Mexican army soldier mans a gun on top of a vehicle while guarding the perimeter around the site of a state prosecutors convention in the Gulf port city of Veracruz, Mexico, Thursday Sept. 22, 2011. A gang known to be aligned with Mexico's most-wanted drug lord appears to be making a violent challenge to the dominant Zetas Cartel in the Gulf state of Veracruz, after they dumped 35 bodies last Sept. 20 on a busy avenue in front of horrified motorists near where the nation's top prosecutors were about to start a convention. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Veracruz State police and Mexican army soldiers guard the perimeter around the site of a state prosecutors convention in the Gulf port city of Veracruz, Mexico Thursday Sept. 22, 2011. A gang known to be aligned with Mexico's most-wanted drug lord appears to be making a violent challenge to the dominant Zetas Cartel in the Gulf state of Veracruz, after they dumped 35 bodies last Sept. 20 on a busy avenue in front of horrified motorists near where the nation's top prosecutors were about to start a convention. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) ? Despite intense security for a national meeting of Mexico's state prosecutors and tough talk from top cops, criminals dumped more bodies in Veracruz three days after gunmen left 35 corpses on a major avenue during rush hour.
An official said Friday that police found 11 bodies around town Thursday, even as this Gulf of Mexico port city ramped up security for the prosecutors meeting by deploying hundreds of soldiers, sailors and police on the streets.
It was unclear who left the most recent group of bodies. Officials believe the New Generation gang was behind the dumping of 35 bodies Tuesday on a busy street just a half-mile (kilometer) from the convention hall as a grim message to the Zetas drug cartel, which dominates the region.
Authorities had established a security perimeter around the metropolitan area, with soldiers in trucks stopping people in town they considered suspicious. The prosecutors meeting was Thursday and Friday.
Residents in Veracruz said this week's horrors had only deepened the fear scaring visitors away from the tourist destination and keeping some residents at home at night.
In August, panicked parents rushed to fetch their children from Veracruz schools after a couple posted Twitter messages warning of nonexistent drug cartel attacks on banks and schools.
"Each time, it's worse, and I don't know if it's going to get better," said a 19-year-old student, who like other people interviewed in Veracruz refused to let their names be used for fear of reprisals.
Another man said he felt crime in town had worsened over the past four months.
"Terrifying, terrifying," he said, reacting to Tuesday's find.
"It's among themselves that they're fighting," the man said of drug gangs. "I don't know if they're the Zetas or the Y's or the X's."
The New Generation gang is believed to be linked to Mexico's most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who heads the Sinaloa cartel, according to a U.S. law enforcement official, who spoke earlier in the week on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Mexican federal Attorney General Marisela Morales said drug dealing was a factor in the mass killing in Veracruz. The port is the biggest city in Veracruz state, which is a main transit route for cocaine and migrants coming from the Guatemalan border.
According to Veracruz state prosecutors, the majority of the 35 victims identified had police records that included kidnappings, extortion, murder and drug dealing. Authorities have not released their identities, but have said one victim was a local police officer who had gone missing.
The 35 bound, seminude and tortured bodies were dumped beneath an overpass during rush hour Tuesday as gunmen waved weapons at horrified motorists.
"It's no surprise to anybody that the criminal gangs are fighting to control turf and dominate drug dealers," Morales said.
A Veracruz restaurant owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mexico's security situation isn't improving because most state governments aren't coordinating with President Felipe Calderon and federal authorities in the crackdown on drug cartels. He said his restaurant has seen business drop by 35 percent in just the past month in large part because of the violence.
More than 30,000 people have died in drug war-related violence around Mexico since Calderon launched his offensive in 2006, according to government figures.
"There is no leadership," the restaurant owner said. "It's the president alone."
Despite the violence, some tourists went ahead with travel plans to Veracruz. On Thursday, dozens were strolling along the city's oceanfront, and buses brought other visitors to the seaside strip.
"You can't ignore the reality, but you can't stop what you have to do," said Gerardo Galvez, a Mexico City resident visiting the city with his wife. "We can't lock ourselves up. You have to continue with life."
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