If anyone needed proof that Mexican organized crime is just as brutally gruesome as it’s portrayed in the movies, the recently discovered clandestine crematorium in Jalisco should make them a believer. Authorities have credited the crematorium to the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The discovery, which included approximately 200 pairs of shoes, clothing, charred human remains, and personal belongings, sheds light on the cartels’ increasingly methodical DIY disposition of victims.
The site was unearthed on the Izaguirre ranch in La Estanzuela, within the municipality of Teuchitlán, by the Warrior Searchers of Jalisco—a group composed of relatives of missing persons. Acting on an anonymous tip, they found evidence of a makeshift crematorium, including three ovens containing charred remains, personal items such as diaries and jewelry, and bullet casings. Notably, the heartbreaking discovery of 200 pairs of shoes has drawn significant attention, symbolizing the scale of the tragedy and the number of lives potentially lost at this site.
This grim finding is part of a broader pattern observed across Mexico, where drug cartels have established numerous clandestine sites to dispose of bodies. These extermination sites often serve dual purposes, functioning as training centers for cartel members and as facilities to eliminate evidence of their crimes. The CJNG, in particular, has been implicated in operating such sites, reflecting their brutal methods to maintain control and instill fear.
The recent discovery in Jalisco is not an isolated incident. Similar sites have been found in other regions, such as Baja California, Tamaulipas, and Coahuila. For instance, in the border state of Chihuahua, investigators uncovered 12 bodies in clandestine graves, underscoring the pervasive use of hidden burial sites by cartels to dispose of victims.
Perhaps one of the most devastating aspects of these discoveries are the personal items that are left behind at these sites. In addition to shoes, items such as children’s notebooks and identification cards are particularly poignant. These things not only serve as potential evidence for investigators but can also provide a semblance of closure for families searching for their missing loved ones.
It’s not surprising, unfortunately, that families have united to search for their missing loved ones. Official records indicate that over 120,000 people in the region are currently listed as disappeared, a number that is likely an undercount due to underreporting and the deeply hidden nature of these crimes. In Jalisco alone, nearly 15,000 individuals are reported as missing. And according to the Associated Press, Mexican authorities aren’t pursuing these crimes as one might expect they should. The Jalisco site, for example, had been secured by law enforcement several months ago, but the investigation stalled after the initial arrests and the discovery of one body.
The international community has also taken note of the escalating violence and the cartels’ evolving tactics, with President Donald Trump not surprisingly being one of the most outspoken. In January, Trump signed an executive order that designated cartels as terrorist organizations. The order specifically called out two groups that have been operating in the United States, Aragua Train and MS-13.
Historically, Mexican drug cartels have employed various gruesome methods for body disposal. One notorious technique, known as “El Guiso” or “The Stew,” involves placing live victims into 55-gallon drums filled with flammable substances and setting them alight. This method not only ensures the complete destruction of the body but also serves as a terror tactic to dissuade opposition. Additionally, cartels have been known to dissolve bodies in chemicals, a practice that gained notoriety in the late 1990s when a member of the Tijuana cartel admitted to disposing of dozens of bodies in this manner. In comparison, cremation seems a much more civilized alternative, if anything about this horrible situation can be deemed civilized.
