Authorities in northern Guatemala, near the Mexican border, confirmed 26 men and two women were shot and decapitated Saturday evening, with police indicating members of a Mexican drug cartel may be responsible as the Guatemalan army sen troops to the Mexican border to prevent an escape of those possibly responsible.

The responsible individuals have not yet been identified, although officials suspect a Mexican drug cartel may be responsible.

National Civil Police investigators say 200 heavily armed men belonging to Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas attacked the group of farmers on Saturday night at the Los Cocos farm in Peten Department, EFE reported.

PNC officials say the shooting and decapitation were consistent with previous killings attributed to Los Zetas.

Members of the Guatemalan military were sent to the Mexican border, about 100 kilomenters from the killing to prevent those responsible from fleeing, Col. Rony Urizar, a spokesman for the Guatemalan military said.

He said air and land patrols are taking place as well as coordination with Mexican authorities to prevent the responsible parties from crossing the border, he said.