Hidden Cartel Training Ground Tied To Mexico’s Drug Violence

Map of Mexico with red pushpin marking location

In the shadowy realm of Mexico’s intense drug conflict, a grim discovery has unfolded at a site in Teuchitlan, pointing to grisly cartel operations.

Key Insights

Three human crematory ovens connected to the CJNG were found at Izaguirre Ranch.
The site was initially misidentified as an “extermination camp.”
Activists found 200 pairs of shoes, hinting at mass violence and disappearance.
Mexico grapples with issues of oversight and cartel collusion.

Discovery of Grim Training Grounds

The unsettling revelation at Izaguirre Ranch in Jalisco, a property linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), enhances the grim narrative of Mexico’s drug war. Investigators uncovered three human crematory ovens suspected to have been used for forced recruitment, torture, and cremation. This revelation adds a disturbing layer to the stories of thousands who have vanished within this tumultuous landscape.

The discovery follows a September raid by local police, who reportedly failed to disclose the site’s true nature. Federal authorities stepped in following criticisms of local law enforcement, bringing a renewed investigative focus on the horrors hidden behind these walls.

Amid this turmoil, Mexico continues to face challenges managing and dismantling organized crime operations. Jalisco is a significant stronghold for the CJNG, with the highest number of disappearances reported. The inadequacy of earlier investigations has called into question the efficiency and integrity of local law enforcement, stirring public anger and drawing protests demanding justice.

Public Outcry and Political Ramifications

The heartbreaking discovery, bringing to light the reality of cartel violence, sparked nationwide protests. Demonstrations erupted in cities such as Mexico City, Tijuana, and Veracruz. Citizens voiced their outrage, pressuring state and federal authorities to take concrete action. “Hopefully they’ll pay attention to us now they see the horrors of the country we live in,” said Aurora Corona, highlighting the desperation permeating this fight for accountability.

“I came to speak out for my son and for all the disappeared,” said Aurora Corona, whose own son vanished last year.

At the forefront, President Claudia Sheinbaum has initiated an overhaul of the case, pledging “there will not be impunity” as she pushes for clearer laws on missing persons. Sheinbaum’s administration faces a daunting test in untangling the cartel’s deep-seated power within Mexican society. The federal response serves as a stark reminder of Mexico’s precarious battle against entrenched criminal organizations.

Stirring the International Community

The nature of the Teuchitlan site highlights a broader crisis of local and international concern. The Guerreros Buscadores collective called it an “extermination center,” utilizing its clandestine crematoriums in a sinister display of cartel ferocity. The UN Human Rights Office described it as a chilling reminder of organized crime-related disappearances, underscoring the dire human rights situation in Mexico.

“At the moment, I repeat, we have no evidence … that it had been an extermination camp, but rather a training site,” said Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch.

Mexico remains engulfed in a painful chapter of its ongoing battle against the deadly operations of drug cartels like the CJNG. As legal and citizen actions rise in response, hope persists for justice and change in addressing the haunting legacy of cartel-fueled violence.