Surrounding the statue are candles, candy and the grainy photos of several ... even when sex work is their only occupation. “The majority of us believe in Santa Muerte,” said Ballesteros.

Santa Muerte is not the only object of supernatural devotion in the drug trade. Far from it. In fact, she's something of a Johnny-come-lately in Mexican folk religion, and for as long as there ...

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: This is also a season when people invoke la Santa Muerte - or the Death Saint. ANDREW CHESNUT: She is the saint who never discriminates, because death accepts everybody.

After all, if the people involved are not only in the drug business for its enormous profits but also believe that they have some sort of religious protection, then stopping them becomes much more ...

And her following is growing in North America too. Andrew Chesnut, author of "Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint", says: "Her growth in the United States has been extraordinary.

Though not officially recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church, Santa Muerte's popularity has spread significantly in the last ten years, especially in crime-ridden communities.EFE / Zumapress ...