Discovery of Alleged Cartel 'Extermination Camp' in Jalisco Uncovers Grim Evidence
Families of Mexico's missing gain access to a ranch in Teuchitlán, revealing potential cartel atrocities amid investigation irregularities.
In Teuchitlán, Jalisco, a ranch known as Izaguirre has been identified as a potential site of systematic killings, allegedly operated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The site, approximately 40 miles west of Guadalajara, was discovered by the Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco collective on March 5, 2025. The group found human bone fragments, ashes, makeshift crematoriums, and over 200 pairs of shoes, alongside numerous personal belongings.
The CJNG, emerging from the remnants of the Milenio Cartel, has become one of Mexico's most formidable criminal organizations, known for its violent tactics and extensive territorial control.
Families searching for missing relatives were granted access to the ranch, hoping to find clues about their loved ones.
Irma Gonzalez, from Puebla state, identified a blue backpack and sweatshirt belonging to her son, who disappeared in 2021.
Mexico's Attorney General, Alejandro Gertz Manero, criticized the initial investigation by Jalisco state authorities, highlighting failures to properly process evidence, investigate the property's ownership, and notify federal officials.
The investigation has since been transferred to federal authorities.
The discovery has intensified scrutiny of President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration and its approach to the nation's security challenges.
Masked individuals, claiming CJNG affiliation, released a video questioning the motives of the search groups that uncovered the site, suggesting they exaggerated findings to tarnish the cartel's image.
This incident underscores the ongoing crisis of disappearances in Mexico, with over 124,000 individuals currently unaccounted for, many attributed to organized crime activities.