Mayor of Teuchitlán, José Murguía Santiago, has been arrested in connection with a cartel training site where human remains were discovered, raising questions about official complicity with one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations.
At a Glance
- Teuchitlán Mayor José Murguía Santiago was arrested for alleged links to a Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) training site
- Activists discovered bone fragments and personal items at the “ranch of horror,” prompting investigation into potential extermination camp
- Mexico’s Attorney-General confirmed it was a cartel training center but disputes claims of mass killings
- About a dozen officials including a police chief have been arrested in the investigation
- Over 127,000 people are officially registered as missing in Mexico, with Jalisco state having the highest number
Mayor’s Arrest Exposes Potential Official Collusion
Mexican authorities have arrested José Murguía Santiago, Mayor of Teuchitlán in western Mexico, as part of an investigation into an alleged training camp operated by the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The arrest comes despite the Mayor’s previous claims of innocence. The investigation is specifically targeting potential omissions or direct complicity between local officials and the cartel, one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations that formed after splitting from the Sinaloa cartel in 2010.
“If they want to investigate me, let them, I’m clean and willing to say what I know,” Mayor José Murguía Santiago had previously stated, according to reporting from Saudi Gazette.
The Mayor is not the only official implicated in the investigation. Approximately a dozen others, including a police chief and multiple officers, have been arrested in connection with the case, highlighting concerns about institutional corruption enabling cartel operations in the region. The arrests signal a significant development in Mexico’s ongoing struggle against powerful criminal organizations and the public officials who allegedly protect them.
Mexican mayor arrested in connection over drug cartel training camp
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The “Ranch of Horror” Discovery
The investigation began after activists from a group called Guerreros Buscadores discovered bone fragments and personal items at the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. These findings led human rights groups to speculate the site functioned as an “extermination camp” where the cartel may have conducted forced recruitment, training, torture, and killings. The ranch’s remote location provided ideal conditions for the cartel to train new members away from public scrutiny.
In September, authorities raided the property, arresting 10 people and freeing two captives. They also discovered a dead body and skeletal remains. The Attorney General’s office took over the investigation after complaints that initial searches had missed crucial evidence. Human Rights Watch described the location as an “apparent mass killing site,” though Mexican officials have since disputed this characterization.
“A Mayor from a western Mexico town was arrested as part of a probe into a suspected drug cartel training camp where human bones and clothing were found, a federal official said,” reported CBS News.
Conflicting Claims About the Site’s Purpose
Mexico’s Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz has confirmed the Izaguirre ranch functioned as a training center for the CJNG but rejected claims it was an extermination site. According to official statements, the bone fragments found were not recent, and fires at the ranch were not hot enough to dispose of human remains effectively. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch reinforced this position, stating there was “no evidence that it was an extermination camp.”
However, these official statements have drawn criticism from relatives of missing persons who believe many questions remain unanswered. The conflicting narratives highlight the ongoing tensions between government accounts and the experiences of citizens affected by cartel violence. Jalisco state has the highest number of missing persons cases in Mexico, contributing to a national crisis where over 127,000 people are officially registered as disappeared.
The case underscores the sophisticated operations of the CJNG, which has rapidly evolved into one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations. The cartel’s ability to maintain training facilities and potentially corrupt local officials demonstrates its growing influence and the challenges facing Mexican authorities in combating organized crime across the country.
