In brief
Attorney General Alejandro Gertz addressed concerns regarding the Izaguirre ranch, previously labeled an "extermination camp." While he confirmed the site served as a training ground for a major cartel, he emphasized the lack of evidence for human cremations despite initial claims.
In a significant statement on Tuesday, Mexico's Attorney General Alejandro Gertz responded to claims surrounding the notorious Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. Previously referred to as an "extermination camp" by families of missing persons, Gertz asserted that the location was primarily used for recruitment and training by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most fearsome criminal organizations. However, he emphasized that there is "not a single piece of evidence" confirming that cremations took place at the ranch.During a press briefing, Gertz reported findings that the ranch had been definitively established as a site for cartel activity based on testimonies and documentation. Nevertheless, he addressed concerns about human remains allegedly discovered at the site, clarifying that scientific investigations had not found cremation-related heat levels. Small bone fragments were retrieved from the area, but studies revealed that temperatures did not exceed 200 degrees Celsius. According to Gertz, true cremation requires temperatures exceeding 800 degrees.Previously, Gertz had mentioned potential evidence for cremations, reflecting ongoing confusion about the situation. Moreover, testify from previously detained cartel members suggested that individuals who resisted cartel training could have faced lethal outcomes at the ranch. This evolving narrative highlights the complex interplay between ongoing investigations and public concerns regarding disappearances linked to organized crime in Mexico.
