logo
Mexico's top lawman: Ranch in Jalisco was a cartel training site, not a crematorium

Mexico's top lawman: Ranch in Jalisco was a cartel training site, not a crematorium

MEXICO CITY — The discovery in March of a 'death ranch' in western Jalisco state sparked a national outcry: Some labeled it 'Mexico's Auschwitz' after civilian searchers found charred bones and what appeared to be makeshift crematoria.
Piles of abandoned shoes, backpacks and clothing became vivid symbols of Mexico's crisis of the disappeared, now officially numbering more than 120,000 vanished individuals, most presumed victims of organized crime.
Mystery has continued to swirl about the site — and, on Tuesday, Mexican Atty. Gen. Alejandro Gertz Manero briefed journalists on the long-awaited findings of the federal investigation.
But his responses left more questions than answers about the grisly find that garnered both domestic and international headlines — and became an embarrassment for the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who vowed that Mexicans would know 'the truth' about what went on at the ranch.
Gertz confirmed that the ranch — situated in an agricultural zone about 37 miles outside Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city — had operated as a training and operations hub for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, among Mexico's most powerful criminal syndicates.
But a forensic investigation found 'not a shred of proof' that corpses were burned at the site, Gertz told reporters, dismissing the notion that the ranch had been a cartel extermination center.
The origins of the charred bones found at the locale, known as Rancho Izaguirre, remained unclear, and Gertz said forensic analysis was continuing. No bodies or complete sets of bones were found, he said.
The attorney general's findings drew criticism from advocates for the disappeared.
'I feel great indignation with the attorney general and with President Sheinbaum for this insult against us and so many families who believed there would be a real investigation,' said Raúl Servín, a member of the group Warrior Searchers of Jalisco, whose visit to the site in March triggered the public outcry about the ranch. 'This is a great deception.'
Federal investigations were still trying to determine why authorities in Jalisco state took no action for years, despite indications that the cartel had been operating at the ranch since at least 2021.
The National Guard raided Rancho Izaguirre last September, ending its tenure as a training camp. On that occasion, according to Jalisco prosecutors, authorities arrested 10 suspects who remain in custody, though authorities have not clarified what charges they face. Investigators also found a body wrapped in plastic and freed two captives.
However, the case of Rancho Izaguirre did not explode into the public realm until last month, when a group of civilian searchers seeking traces of the disappeared entered the site and said they had found human remains and abandoned belongings.
Still opaque is the fate of the many people, some apparently recruits for the cartel, who passed through the camp.
Previously, authorities have said that many were deceived into joining the cartel ranks, often after responding to online ads offering well-paying positions as security guards and other posts. Others have speculated that they may have been willing recruits into the ranks of organized crime, which is among Mexico's largest employers.
Since the case of the ranch broke open, authorities say, Mexican officials have shut down dozens of online sites linked to organized crime recruiting operations.
In March, Omar García Harfuch, Mexico's security chief, told reporters that online ads from cartels offered salaries of between $200 and $600 a week — well above the $100 to $150 that many Mexicans earn in a week. Recruits were directed to bus stations, from where they were transported to the ranch, he said.
At the camp, officials said, recruits relinquished their clothing and cellphones, remained incommunicado to the outside world, and were issued uniforms and tactical boots — a process that might explain the piles of abandoned personal effects found at the site.
The recruits underwent a one-month course of physical drills and firearms training, García Harfuch said, before many were incorporated into the cartel structure. Those who refused training, or tried to escape, may have faced beatings, torture and even death, García Harfuch said.
Mexican authorities announced last month the arrest of the alleged camp ringleader, identified only as 'José Gregorio N,' and known as 'El Lastra' or 'Comandante Lastra,' a top recruiter for the Jalisco cartel.
The many questions about the site continue to haunt many in Mexico, especially the searchers who arrived at the site in March and distributed photos of abandoned personal items, charred bones and other chilling finds.
'We found those crematoria, we found those bones,' said Servín, the Jalisco searcher. 'We found evidence. And now they tell us it is not the case. One feels a great sense of impotence.'
Special correspondent Cecilia Sánchez Vidal contributed to this report.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fox News Host Jesse Watters Uses Edited Clip to Cover Up Trump Flub
Fox News Host Jesse Watters Uses Edited Clip to Cover Up Trump Flub

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Fox News Host Jesse Watters Uses Edited Clip to Cover Up Trump Flub

Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime conveniently omitted a portion of Donald Trump's comment about a phone call with Gavin Newsom in order to make the California governor look bad. The attempted dunk tried to skirt the fact that Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday afternoon that he last spoke with Newsom 'a day ago,' which Newsom denied. 'There was no call. Not even a voicemail,' he wrote on X in response. Fox News anchor John Roberts obtained a record of a call from Trump to Newsom on Friday night Pacific time (Saturday morning in the east), and admitted the calls were not made 'a day ago,' as Trump claimed. 'This was June the 7th. Now, granted, this was on Saturday,' the Fox anchor said. However some on the right, like Watters, spun the story as somehow proof that Newsom was lying. When Watters introduced the topic Tuesday night, Fox's broadcast of Trump's comments just so happened to begin a split-second after he said those three words, omitting, 'a day ago' from its broadcast. 'Called him up to tell him: got to do a better job. He's done a bad job, causing a lot of death and a lot of potential death,' Trump said, as Fox portrayed it. Watters made no mention of the omission Tuesday night. Instead, he went ahead bashing Newsom anyways. 'Newsom responded, and he said there wasn't a phone call. He said Trump never called him. Not even a voicemail, he said. But John Roberts got Trump's call logs, and it shows Trump called him late Friday night and they talked for 16 minutes,' Watters said confidently. 'Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him? Why would he do that?' he then asked. Newsom has already said that Trump didn't even talk about the National Guard during their call last week. 'We talked for almost 20 minutes and this issue never came up,' he told MSNBC. 'He never once brought up the National Guard. He's a stone-cold liar.'

Trump's Strongman Week: Inside his show of military force
Trump's Strongman Week: Inside his show of military force

Axios

time35 minutes ago

  • Axios

Trump's Strongman Week: Inside his show of military force

Troops deployed to Los Angeles. Paratroopers dropping from the sky before a partisan speech to troops at Fort Bragg. A military parade in D.C. that will coincide with the president's birthday. Call it President Trump 's Strongman Week. Trump is making a point of showing executive force at a level he only dreamed about during his first term. Why it matters: Trump's swift militarized response Saturday to the Los Angeles protests marks a defining moment in his presidency, as he uses his military authority to juice his immigration crackdown and hammer Democrats — all with a mix of pomp and threats. Zoom in: In a sign he's moving closer to escalating military action by declaring protests such as L.A.'s as insurrections, Trump said Tuesday that he'll send troops to any city he deems at risk of riots or possibly even protests he doesn't like — including Saturday's military parade in D.C. "I can inform the rest of the country that when they do it — if they do it — they're going to be met with equal or greater force," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office regarding the possibility of protests this weekend in D.C. Trump's executive order last weekend authorizing the National Guard deployment doesn't specify it's only for Los Angeles. It could apply anywhere. Later Tuesday, during a speech to troops at Fort Bragg, N.C., Trump blasted former President Biden and California's Democratic leadership while calling the L.A. protests against his immigration raids "anarchy." Earlier, he'd called some of the protesters "insurrectionists." Such claims — which have been aggressively disputed by California officials — suggest Trump is seeking to justify using the Insurrection Act of 1807, which allows the deployment of U.S. troops to quell domestic unrest and is among the most extreme emergency powers available to a president. Already, he's ordered 4,000 National Guard troops to L.A. over the objection of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). On Tuesday, hundreds of Marines were arriving as well — a move Newsom and other state and local officials called unnecessary and an abuse of power. "Donald Trump is behaving like a tyrant, not a president," Newsom posted on X Tuesday. "By turning the military against American citizens, he is threatening the very core of our democracy." The backstory: Trump's actions in many ways reflect his regret at not sending in the National Guard sooner in 2020, during his first administration's response to the unrest that followed George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Trump's advisers at the time talked him out of it. Trump also wanted to have a military parade in 2020, but dropped the idea after advisers cautioned it would look too authoritarian and could cause costly damage by tanks rolling along D.C. streets. Marc Short, then-Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, recalled that Trump had been eager to hold a military parade since French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Trump at a Bastille Day parade in Paris in 2017. A senior Trump 2020 campaign official said using the military during the Floyd protests would have been risky, given the sensitive racial issues at the center of the demonstrations. The big picture: Now, in his second term, Trump isn't expressing such concerns. He has different advisers who are more in line with his desires. But one constant remains: Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's aggressive immigration policies. He has aggressively called for using the National Guard to crack down on any protesters who try to block federal agents from arresting unauthorized immigrants. "Stephen has been clear in all the meetings: More military, faster," said a Trump adviser familiar with the discussions. Bolstering Miller: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whom the adviser described as "practically bloodthirsty" in her support for more and tougher immigration enforcement. A DHS spokesperson pushed back on that characterization and said Noem is "antithetical to bloodthirsty — she is trying to prevent bloodshed." This weekend, Trump will get his military parade — a $45 million effort celebrating the Army's 250th birthday that happens to fall on Trump's 79th birthday and Flag Day. Army officials plan to display rocket launchers and missiles along with more than 100 aircraft and tanks, according to people familiar with the planning. Trump on Tuesday had a warning for any protesters — and didn't distinguish between troublemakers and peaceful citizens expressing their speech rights. "I haven't even heard about a protest," he said, "but you know, this is people that hate our country .... They will be met with very heavy force." The intrigue: White House insiders say Trump's response to the L.A. protests appears to have energized him after a week in which his "First Buddy," Elon Musk, brutally criticized him during their falling out over Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" in Congress. "The president was actually hurt" by the Musk episode, according to a confidant who spoke with Trump about it. "Yes, he has feelings, and he was hurt the way anyone would be when a friend turns on them." "But that's gone now. L.A. wiped away the Elon drama," the source said. "What's driving the president is how the riots of 2020 are seared into his brain, and how he wished he could've sent in the troops to end it."

Newsom Launches Scorched-Earth Attack on ‘Dictator' Trump
Newsom Launches Scorched-Earth Attack on ‘Dictator' Trump

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Newsom Launches Scorched-Earth Attack on ‘Dictator' Trump

California Gov. Gavin Newsom went scorched earth on Donald Trump in a withering address on Tuesday, likening the president to 'failed dictators' and warning Americans, 'other states are next.' The Democrat gave a fervent play-by-play of events that have taken place in Los Angeles since last week, beginning with a series of federal immigration raids on workplaces in the city that sparked protests. Those demonstrations prompted Trump to send in the National Guard and then additional Marines, in defiance of Newsom's warnings that it would inflame tensions and make things worse. 'Like many states, California is no stranger to this sort of unrest,' Newsom said in a livestreamed press conference. 'We manage it regularly and with our own law enforcement. But this, again, was different. What then ensued was the use of tear gas, flash bang grenades, rubber bullets, federal agents detaining people and undermining their due process rights.' 'Donald Trump, without consulting California law enforcement leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state's National Guard members to deploy on our streets, illegally and for no reason,' he continued. 'This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers, and even our National Guard at risk.' Newsom described the move as the beginning of a 'downward spiral,' accusing Trump of 'fanning the flames' on purpose. Trump made a series of inflammatory posts on Truth Social over the weekend, ignoring Newsom's calls to return the National Guard troops to his command. The governor also condemned the 'several dozen lawbreakers' who became 'violent and destructive,' saying offenders would be 'prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' More than 220 people had been arrested so far, he said, with more likely to come. He thanked law enforcement and the 'majority of Angelenos who protested peacefully.' On Monday, Trump ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, as well as 700 Marines, after first activating 2,000 National Guard troops on Saturday. Newsom accused Trump of doing so intentionally to manufacture chaos. 'The situation was winding down and was concentrated in just a few square blocks downtown,' Newsom said. 'But that's not what Donald Trump wanted. He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety.' The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on Newsom's address. Its director of communications, Steven Cheung, wrote on X: 'NewScum must've hired Kamala and Biden's loser campaign team because he saying this is a 'threat to democracy.'' Newsom also condemned the ongoing Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids, which he said had continued since last week. Images shared by ICE on social media on Tuesday appear to show troops on scene while agents detain people. The agency said the images showed an 'immigration enforcement operation.' Newsom's administration filed an emergency motion on Tuesday to 'block Trump's unlawful militarization of Los Angeles.' A judge declined to grant immediate relief but gave the Trump administration until Wednesday to file its response. 'If some of us could be snatched off the streets without a warrant based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe,' Newsom said in his press conference. 'Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves, but they do not stop there.' He referenced the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, arguing that Trump is 'not opposed to lawlessness and violence as long as it serves him.' Trump in January pardoned about 1,500 people who had been convicted over their roles in the riot, which was carried out in protest of Trump's 2020 election loss. Newsom also ran through some of Trump's most stunning acts as president so far, including his targeting of universities, the media, government watchdogs, law firms and the judiciary. 'He's ordering our American heroes, the United States military, and forcing them to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday, just as other failed dictators have done in the past,' he added, referring to the June 14 military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army and the president's 79th birthday. The Democrat warned Americans this is not just about the protests in Los Angeles. 'This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next,' he said, adding: 'This moment we have feared has arrived.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store