- A private volunteer group discovered mass graves, hundreds of personal belongings and secret crematoriums on a ranch in Jalisco, Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her administration’s prosecutor’s office will investigate the matter.
- Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus also vowed that the Mexican National Search Commission will work with state and federal law enforcement to investigate the mass grave site.
- The nonprofit discovered the site on March 5 while trying to locate missing persons.
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Mexican authorities confirmed a private volunteer group’s discovery of mass graves, hundreds of personal belongings and secret crematoriums on a ranch in Jalisco, Mexico.
President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered an investigation into the site Wednesday, March 12. Her administration’s prosecutor’s office will investigate the matter.
Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus also vowed that the Mexican National Search Commission will work with state and federal law enforcement to investigate the mass graves.
Who discovered the mass grave?
A nonprofit group known as Warrior Searchers of Jalisco, which attempts to locate missing persons, discovered the mass grave Wednesday, March 5.
The group said an anonymous tip alerted the group to the area. The collective initially searched the site before authorities took over.
What did investigators find?
Warrior Searchers of Jalisco said it discovered human remains, three clandestine crematoriums, farewell letters and shell casings at the ranch.
Jalisco state authorities announced they recovered nearly 500 items, including clothing, backpacks and more than 400 pairs of shoes.
Mexican media dubbed the site an “extermination camp”. They reported the site may be a recruitment center connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which the Trump administration recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
How many people allegedly died at the site?
A member of Warrior Searchers of Jalisco said a woman who survived the camp told them up to 1,500 people may have died at the site. The woman also alleged organ trafficking took place at the site.
Why are some angry with authorities?
In September 2024, the Mexican National Guard raided the complex and detained 10 people. The team rescued a pair of kidnapping victims and found a body.
However, the agency has taken no further action at the site until now, following the collective’s recent discovery. This has led critics to accuse local authorities of collusion with the criminal operation.
Mexico’s attorney general stated that it is “not credible” for local police to have overlooked the ovens and human remains during previous searches.
Sheinbaum agreed with the attorney general’s comments following the announcement of her administration’s probe into the site.
How many people remain missing in Jalisco?
Jalisco is reportedly the Mexican state with the most missing persons, estimated at nearly 15,000 people.
