Fact Check: The Jalisco new generation cartel operated a death camp in Teuchitlan

Fact Check: "The Jalisco New Generation Cartel Operated a Death Camp in Teuchitlán"

What We Know

The claim that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operated a death camp in Teuchitlán, Mexico, stems from a series of investigations into a site known as Rancho Izaguirre. This ranch was reportedly used as a training center for cartel recruits, where disturbing evidence was discovered, including bone fragments and hundreds of discarded personal items such as shoes and clothing (source-2, source-3). Activists and rights groups have expressed concerns that the site may have functioned as an "extermination camp," where individuals were forcibly recruited and potentially killed if they resisted (source-2, source-5).

However, Mexico's Attorney General Alejandro Gertz stated that while the ranch was confirmed to be a training center for the CJNG, there was no evidence to support claims that it served as an extermination or cremation site. He noted that the bone fragments found were not recent and that forensic tests indicated the fires at the ranch were not hot enough to dispose of human remains (source-1, source-4).

Analysis

The evidence surrounding the claim is complex and somewhat contradictory. On one hand, the discovery of personal belongings and bone fragments at the ranch has led many to believe that it could have been used for mass killings. Rights groups have labeled it an "extermination camp," which reflects the fears and experiences of families searching for missing persons in Mexico, where over 120,000 individuals have been reported missing due to cartel violence (source-2, source-5).

On the other hand, the official statements from the Attorney General's office suggest a more limited function for the ranch, primarily as a training site rather than a site of systematic extermination. The Attorney General's assertion that the bone fragments were not recent and that the conditions at the ranch did not support cremation of human remains raises questions about the extent of violence that may have occurred there (source-1, source-4).

The reliability of sources varies; while government statements are official and carry weight, they may also be influenced by political considerations. Conversely, reports from rights groups and activists may reflect a more emotional and urgent perspective, which is essential in understanding the human impact of cartel violence but may not always align with forensic evidence.

Conclusion

The claim that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operated a death camp in Teuchitlán is Partially True. Evidence suggests that the ranch was used for training cartel recruits and that disturbing findings, such as bone fragments and personal items, were discovered. However, the lack of forensic evidence supporting the notion of systematic extermination or cremation at the site complicates the narrative. The situation reflects the broader context of violence and disappearances in Mexico, where the truth often remains obscured by conflicting accounts and the ongoing struggle for justice by affected families.

Sources

1. Mexico 'ranch of horror' was cartel training site, not extermination camp
2. Mexican mayor arrested over alleged links to cartel training camp
3. Jalisco extermination camp
4. Ovens and bone fragments - BBC visits Mexican cartel 'extermination' site
5. Killing Camp Shows Horrors of CJNG Forced Recruitment
6. Secret ovens and human remains: grisly Mexico killing site
7. Mexican mayor arrested in connection to alleged drug cartel training camp
8. The cruel visit to 'staged' extermination camp in Mexico