MEXICO CITY — On Wednesday, a report from Mexico’s attorney general highlighted serious irregularities discovered in a state investigation surrounding an alleged cartel site in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The site, located at a ranch in Teuchitlan, near Guadalajara, had become a focal point after civilians searching for missing loved ones stumbled upon hundreds of articles of clothing and other personal belongings.
The authorities had initially located the ranch in September 2024. However, six months later, members of a group dedicated to searching for the disappeared found evidence such as charred bone fragments and personal items that cast doubt on the initial investigation carried out by the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office.
Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero criticized the local investigators, pointing out that they neglected to effectively document evidence, collect fingerprints, and examine vehicles on the property, three of which were later reported stolen. Additionally, local law enforcement did not probe the ownership of the ranch or conduct scientific analyses of the areas suspected of being used as crematoriums.
The attorney general also noted that the investigators failed to detain local authorities associated with activities at the ranch and that the federal prosecutors were not informed of the discovery as per usual protocols. Despite a National Guard operation at the location the previous year, there remains insufficient evidence to ascertain whether the ranch served as a cremation site or a training camp for cartel members.
The Jalisco Search Warriors, a local collective, published shocking images last week that depicted dozens of shoes, heaps of clothing, and what looked like human bone fragments. Such groups have consistently risked their safety to unearth truths regarding the fates of Mexico’s 120,000 disappeared individuals amidst widespread impunity.
In response, vigils were held over the weekend to honor those believed to have been victimized at the site. A video emerged on Monday featuring masked, heavily armed figures proclaiming allegiance to the Jalisco New Generation cartel, in which they questioned the motives of the search collectives.
These revelations underscore ongoing challenges in addressing cartel violence, enforced disappearances, and endemic government corruption in Mexico. The nation grapples with the harsh realities of these issues, as families of the missing seek closure and justice amidst growing concerns over the integrity of investigation processes.