Mexican mayor José Murguía Santiago of Teuchitlán has been arrested for allegedly collaborating with a notorious drug cartel that operated a training camp where human remains were discovered.
Key Takeaways
- Mayor José Murguía Santiago was arrested as part of an investigation into a Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) training site where human remains were found
- The site, known as the “ranch of horror,” was allegedly used for training new cartel recruits, with reports of torture and killings of non-cooperative individuals
- Mexican Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz confirmed the location was a training center but disputed claims it was an “extermination camp”
- About a dozen others, including local police officials, have also been arrested in connection with the investigation
- Over 127,000 people are currently registered as missing in Mexico, with Jalisco state having the highest number of disappearances
Mayor’s Arrest Shocks Community
The mayor of Teuchitlán, José Murguía Santiago, has been taken into custody as part of a widening investigation into alleged connections between local officials and one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations. Before his arrest, Murguía Santiago had publicly denied any wrongdoing, telling reporters, “If they want to investigate me, let them, I’m clean and willing to say what I know.” The investigation centers on the Izaguirre ranch, where authorities discovered evidence suggesting it functioned as a cartel training facility.
The arrest is part of a broader crackdown that has already resulted in approximately a dozen detentions, including a police chief and several officers. Authorities are specifically investigating potential omissions or direct complicity between local officials and the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), which has rapidly grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal enterprises since splitting from the Sinaloa cartel in 2010.
Mexican mayor arrested in connection over drug cartel training camp
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The “Ranch of Horror” Discovery
The investigation began after activists discovered bone fragments and personal items at the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. Human rights groups initially feared the site functioned as an “extermination camp” where the cartel conducted forced recruitment, training, torture, and killings. A federal official confirmed, “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.”
“If they want to investigate me, let them, I’m clean and willing to say what I know,” said Mayor José Murguía Santiago,
The site, discovered in September 2024, initially yielded limited evidence. However, the investigation intensified after a complaint from Guerreros Buscadores, a group that searches for missing persons. This organization found evidence that authorities had overlooked during the initial search. In September, authorities conducted a raid that resulted in the arrest of 10 people, the rescue of two captives, and the discovery of a dead body along with skeletal remains at the property.
Disputed Claims About the Site’s Purpose
Mexican Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz has confirmed the ranch served as a training center for the CJNG but disputed characterizations of it as an extermination site. His office reported that bone fragments found at the location were not recent, and fires at the ranch were not hot enough to dispose of human remains effectively. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated there was “no evidence that it was an extermination camp.”
“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,” said a federal official.
These statements have drawn criticism from relatives of missing persons, who believe many questions remain unanswered about the site and its operations. Human Rights Watch has described the location as an “apparent mass killing site,” contradicting the government’s assessment. Reports suggest the cartel used the ranch to train new recruits in combat techniques, weapons handling, and operational tactics, with allegations that non-cooperative recruits faced torture or death.
Mexico’s Ongoing Missing Persons Crisis
The case highlights Mexico’s severe missing persons crisis, with over 127,000 individuals currently registered as disappeared. Jalisco state, where Teuchitlán is located, has the highest number of missing persons cases in the country. The attorney general’s office took control of the investigation after local authorities were accused of missing critical evidence during initial searches of the property, raising concerns about possible complicity or negligence at multiple levels of local government.
The arrest of Mayor Murguía Santiago represents a significant development in Mexico’s ongoing struggle against powerful drug cartels that have infiltrated local governments and security forces. As the investigation continues, authorities are examining the extent to which local officials may have facilitated or turned a blind eye to cartel activities that have terrorized communities across Jalisco and beyond.
Sources:
- Mexican mayor arrested over alleged links to cartel training camp – Saudi Gazette
- Mexican mayor arrested in connection to alleged drug cartel training camp, official says – CBS News
