Mexican Attorney General Disputes Claims of Cremations at Cartel Ranch

Mexico’s Attorney General Alejandro Gertz stated that the Izaguirre ranch, previously labeled an "extermination camp," was used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for training, but there is no evidence to support claims of human cremations.

In a significant development in the investigation of an abandoned ranch in western Mexico, Attorney General Alejandro Gertz clarified that while the site has been linked to a major drug cartel, there is no substantiated proof of human cremations. This statement comes after groups searching for missing persons labeled the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán an "extermination camp" due to the discovery of personal items and charred remains.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Gertz explained that the ranch has been "totally proven" to act as a recruitment and training ground for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most violent criminal organizations. The evidence presented included testimonials and documentation collected from the site.

Despite earlier reports suggesting the presence of crematory activity, Gertz emphasized that rigorous testing performed by a Mexico City university found no heat levels exceeding 200 degrees Celsius, whereas cremations necessitate temperatures above 800 degrees. He also noted that only a small container of bone fragments was located at the scene, and there were no formal crematories established on the property.

These revelations come in light of previous assertions by Gertz, where he noted there were signs of some type of cremation linked to human remains. Additionally, Mexico's security minister, Omar García Harfuch, had mentioned testimony from a detained individual about the cartel's harsh measures against those who resisted their training program or attempted to flee.

The investigation into the ranch continues, as authorities seek to piece together the full extent of its operations and the fate of those reported missing in the region.