The mayor of Teuchitlán, José Murguía Santiago, has been taken into custody by prosecutors investigating a shocking cartel training site in western Jalisco, Mexico. Accusations suggest that Murguía Santiago may have collaborated with the infamous New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG), a claim he firmly denies. The inquiry was sparked when activists uncovered disturbing evidence at a ranch, including bone fragments and an abundance of abandoned shoes and clothing. Rights advocates expressed fears that this location might have served as a grim "extermination camp" for the cartel, where unwilling recruits faced severe consequences.
In a press conference, Mexico's Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz confirmed that the Izaguirre ranch had indeed been utilized for CJNG training, asserting, however, that there was no proof it functioned as an extermination site. He noted that forensic analysis indicated the remains found were not recent, and that the fires at the site lacked the intensity necessary to incinerate human bodies.
Despite these reassurances, families searching for more than 120,000 missing individuals in Mexico remain frustrated, suggesting the official statements only deepen their need for clarity. The mayor, just before his arrest, expressed transparency, asserting, "If they want to investigate me, let them. I'm clean." However, allegations claim he was aware of the training activities but failed to report them. The investigation continues, spotlighting the dire realities of cartel influence within local governance in Mexico.
In a press conference, Mexico's Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz confirmed that the Izaguirre ranch had indeed been utilized for CJNG training, asserting, however, that there was no proof it functioned as an extermination site. He noted that forensic analysis indicated the remains found were not recent, and that the fires at the site lacked the intensity necessary to incinerate human bodies.
Despite these reassurances, families searching for more than 120,000 missing individuals in Mexico remain frustrated, suggesting the official statements only deepen their need for clarity. The mayor, just before his arrest, expressed transparency, asserting, "If they want to investigate me, let them. I'm clean." However, allegations claim he was aware of the training activities but failed to report them. The investigation continues, spotlighting the dire realities of cartel influence within local governance in Mexico.
