Armed Men Release Shocking Video Targeting Searchers for Missing Relatives at Alleged Cartel Training Camp

Masked men have recently released a video targeting families searching for their missing loved ones in Jalisco, Mexico. In the video, a man, flanked by others, identifies himself as a member of the Jalisco New Generation cartel. He questions the motivations of those searching at a site that has been linked to cartel activities.

This location, near Guadalajara, has drawn attention after search teams uncovered hundreds of items, including clothing, shoes, and what appears to be charred bone fragments. Security analyst David Saucedo believes the cartel’s video aims to improve its image amid growing negative press.

The Jalisco cartel is one of eight Latin American criminal organizations recently classified by the U.S. government as foreign terrorist organizations. Such videos are not new; cartels often use them to portray themselves as defenders of the community while disowning violence attributed to them.

"It’s an outrage they try to stain our name," said Angélica, a member of the Jalisco Search Warriors, a group dedicated to finding missing persons. She emphasized the plight of families living in fear, longing to know the fate of their children. "No one protects us," she lamented.

There are currently over 120,000 reported missing people in Mexico, a figure that has raised alarms both locally and internationally. Recent data shows that drug cartels’ violence has resulted in multiple mass graves being uncovered across the country. In January, authorities found at least 56 bodies in mass graves in northern Mexico, and in December, another site near Guadalajara revealed 24 sets of remains.

Authorities are criticized for their slow response to such discoveries. Jalisco’s state prosecutor noted that previous investigations at the ranch failed to uncover evidence found by volunteer searchers, calling earlier efforts "insufficient."

The growing crisis has led to grassroots movements, with families often stepping in where authorities fall short. Many search collectives across Mexico are dedicated to finding the lost, even as cartel violence persists. As the search for justice continues, the work of these groups highlights both the desperation of families and the urgent need for systemic changes in how missing persons cases are handled.

For further reading on missing persons in Mexico and the roles of search collectives, you can refer to the Mexican government’s reports on their response to organized crime.

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Drug Cartels, Mexico, Missing Persons, Cartel