Mexican mayor arrested for harboring the training of Jalisco New Generation Cartel members who were turning recruits into skilled killers on his town’s territory.
At a Glance
- Teuchitlán Mayor José Murguía Santiago has been detained for allegedly supporting a cartel training base despite his claims of innocence
- Human remains and personal items were discovered at the “ranch of horror,” sparking investigation into cartel activities
- The site was allegedly used to train cartel recruits, with reports of torture and killings of those who refused cooperation
- About a dozen others, including police officers, have been arrested in connection with the investigation
- Mexico’s staggering 127,000 missing persons crisis continues with Jalisco leading in disappearance cases
The “Ranch of Horror” and a Mayor’s Disturbing Connections
In a development that should shock absolutely no one familiar with Mexico’s corrupt political landscape, the mayor of Teuchitlán, José Murguía Santiago, has been arrested for allegedly aiding the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). This isn’t just any cartel operation – we’re talking about a full-blown “ranch of horror” training camp where new cartel recruits were allegedly molded into killers. The discovery came after activists found bone fragments and personal items at the Izaguirre ranch, suggesting it served as something far more sinister than a place to raise cattle. Of course, Mayor Murguía Santiago insists he’s innocent, despite apparently having a blind spot for the cartel training facility operating in his backyard.
“If they want to investigate me, let them, I’m clean and willing to say what I know,” claimed Mayor José Murguía Santiago before his arrest, displaying the kind of confidence only a politician with nothing to hide – or everything to hide – can muster.
Officials Downplaying the Horror, As Usual
In a classic move straight from the Mexican government’s damage control handbook, Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz confirmed the site was indeed a training center for the CJNG but conveniently found “no evidence” it was an extermination site. This despite human remains being discovered there. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch echoed this sentiment, stating there was “no evidence that it was an extermination camp.” Well, that’s certainly a relief! I guess those bone fragments and personal belongings just happened to appear there by magic. The government insists the bone fragments weren’t recent and the fires at the ranch weren’t hot enough to dispose of human remains – as if cartel members consult proper cremation temperature guidelines before disposing of bodies.
“A mayor from a western Mexico town was arrested as part of a probe into a suspected drug cartel training camp where human bones and clothing were found”, a federal official said.
Families of the missing are understandably furious with these dismissive statements. With over 127,000 people registered as missing in Mexico – and Jalisco having the highest number of disappearances – these families know better than to trust official narratives that conveniently minimize cartel atrocities. The Guerreros Buscadores group, which consists of family members searching for missing loved ones, found evidence that was somehow “missed” in the initial search. Funny how that works – citizen volunteers with limited resources finding what government officials with all their expertise couldn’t seem to locate.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s Growing Empire
The CJNG isn’t some amateur operation – it’s a well-oiled machine that split from the Sinaloa cartel in 2010 and rapidly developed into one of Mexico’s most violent criminal enterprises. Their “ranch of horror” in Teuchitlán was reportedly used not just for training but for forced recruitment, with reports indicating non-cooperative recruits were tortured and killed as examples. The remote location provided perfect cover for these activities, allowing the cartel to operate with impunity while local officials like Mayor Murguía Santiago allegedly looked the other way – or worse, actively facilitated their operations.
What’s particularly galling is how deeply corruption appears to have penetrated local government. Besides the mayor, about a dozen others have been arrested, including a police chief and several officers. This isn’t just about one bad apple – it’s about systematic corruption that enables cartel operations. While Mexico’s current administration continues its failed “hugs, not bullets” approach to dealing with cartels, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel continues expanding its territory and influence. Meanwhile, American border security remains compromised, allowing these same cartels to traffic drugs and people into our country with minimal resistance. Until we secure our border and Mexico gets serious about corruption, this horrific cycle will continue.
