Mexico’s Attorney General Alejandro Gertz pledged on Tuesday to conduct a thorough investigation into a recently discovered mass grave in the western state of Jalisco.
The discovery, made by a private volunteer group looking for missing family members in Jalisco called Guerreros Buscadores, revealed a clandestine crematorium on a ranch near Teuchitlán, approximately 60 kilometers northwest of Guadalajara. An Infobae Mexico report states that a around 400 pairs of shoes, burnt remains, and personal belongings, including clothing, were found at the site.
❗️☠️🇲🇽 – A group of relatives of missing persons, Guerreros Buscadores, discovered a site in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, western Mexico, used by organized crime as a clandestine crematorium and training ground.
They found charred remains and hundreds of personal items, such as shoes,… pic.twitter.com/OZMTPP2IPg
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) March 11, 2025
“This is a very critical and serious issue,” Gertz said at a press conference.”It is unbelievable that a situation of this nature would not have been known to the local authorities of that municipality and the state.”
Authorities confirmed that the site had been raided in September 2024. The operation resulted in the arrest of 10 armed individuals, the release of two kidnapped victims, and the discovery of a body. However, officials at the time failed to detect the underground crematoriums and additional remains.
Eerie Discovery in Jalisco: 400 Pairs of Shoes, Clothes, and Suitcases Found in Clandestine Ovens
In Teuchitlán, Jalisco, authorities stumbled upon a chilling scene: clandestine ovens containing roughly 400 pairs of shoes, assorted clothing, and suitcases. The site, uncovered in… pic.twitter.com/JDFIS5NW6M
— Auden B. Cabello (@CabelloAuden) March 7, 2025
“They (authorities) have to do an exhaustive inspection. We ask that they bring the dogs … that are certified to find human remains and bones,” said Índira Navarro, a representative of the collective, in a statement to AFP.
Jalisco is a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, involved in drug and human trafficking. The ranch where the crematorium was found is believed to have functioned as a training and recruitment site for cartel members. Authorities previously noted the presence of a makeshift obstacle course on the property.
At a press conference on Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum called the discovery “terrible” and confirmed that her security cabinet has been in contact with Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus. She directed the Interior Ministry to collaborate with search groups and organizations supporting families of the disappeared.
According to the National Search Commission (CNB), Jalisco has nearly 15,000 reported missing persons, the highest number in the country. Across Mexico, more than 100,000 people have been officially registered as disappeared, though the actual number may be higher due to unreported cases.
The CNB reports that more than 1,000 mass graves have been found across Mexico since its establishment in 2018.
