Discovery of 34 Human Remains Amid Construction in Mexico's Cartel-Hit Region

Source: CBS/AFP

Officials from Mexico announced the grim find of 34 bodies in a mass burial site in a western area afflicted by cartel brutality, as revealed by the state prosecutor's office on Thursday.

Salvador Gonzalez, a prosecutor, reported at a press briefing that the bodies were uncovered amid construction efforts in Zapopan, located within Jalisco state, a region known for the presence of one of the nation's most infamous drug cartels.

Following the initial February find, authorities employed cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar to continue the search for hidden bodies, Gonzalez explained.

In Latin America, it is common for criminal networks to clandestinely dispose of their victims, either by burying them in unmarked locations or by incinerating them to leave no physical evidence.

The state of Jalisco is among the regions most severely affected by a crisis related to disappearances, with a staggering figure of over 127,000 missing persons reported.

Jalisco serves as a major hub for an influential drug trafficking organization, which was designated by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration as a dangerous group.

Reportedly, the Jalisco cartel uses deceptive job listings to recruit individuals, and is implicated in acts of violence against those who oppose them. In a past incident in March, family members searching for their missing loved ones discovered what appeared to be a training site for the cartel.

Led by the notorious Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, more commonly known by his alias, the U.S. government has offered a substantial reward for tips leading to his capture.

The perpetual cycle of criminal violence has resulted in approximately 480,000 fatalities throughout Mexico since the year 2006.

Numerous burial sites have been uncovered across the country. Notably, in 2017, a case involving more than 250 skulls was reported, believed to be connected to a mass casualty event orchestrated by a drug cartel near Veracruz.

Earlier this year, additional remains were located in northern Mexico relatively near the U.S. border.

Additionally, Mexican authorities in the northern Chihuahua state discovered 12 bodies in secret burial sites. Concurrently, a separate group of 12 bodies was found in different graves approximately two hours away from Ciudad Juarez, adjacent to El Paso, Texas.