In midst of pandemic, Mexicans resume searches for the disappeared

A police officer uses a drone during a search for skeletal remains and clothing at a plot of land, in the municipality of Hidalgo, on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico September 3, 2020. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

NUEVO LEON, Mexico (Reuters) - Using drones, shovels and picks, desperate Mexicans resumed searching for disappeared family members across remote parts of the country, restarting a torturous process that was largely halted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March.

More than 73,000 people are classified as missing in Mexico, most of whom are believed to be victims of drug cartel warfare since Mexico launched its so-called 'War on Drugs' in 2006. The searches are largely carried out by family members.