Rancho Izaguirre, located outside Teuchitlán, Jalisco, has emerged as one of the most significant clandestine sites linked to organized crime in Mexico in recent years.

On September 18, 2024, federal forces raided Rancho Izaguirre, freeing two captives, locating one body, and arresting ten suspects.

On March 5, 2025, the collective Guerreros Buscadores Jalisco entered the site after receiving anonymous calls from presumed captives. The collective documented widespread evidence of violence, including bone fragments, ash deposits, shoes, clothing, and personal belongings. Over 1,300 items have been catalogued.

Survivor testimonies describe being deceived by false job offers, subjected to forced recruitment training, and threatened with death if they refused to participate. Some survivors report being forced to dig graves and dispose of bodies through dismemberment and burning.

Since the discovery, Rancho Izaguirre has come to be known as a forced recruitment and extermination camp run by Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), a transnational criminal group known for their use of extreme violence and one of Mexico’s foremost criminal threats.

Authorities have denied characterizing Rancho Izaguirre as an “extermination camp.” However, collectives and media disagree with the government stance, citing survivor testimonies, evidence of cremation activities, and catalogued belongings.

Rancho Izaguirre is one of the most significant clandestine sites linked to CJNG operations. The case highlights the use of forced recruitment through fake job offers, as well as systematic killings and clandestine cremations. It underscores the role of collectives in uncovering evidence and pressing for accountability in the face of official denial.

Case Location Evidence Below:

• Rancho Izaguirre is located at 20° 39' 24.1"N 103° 48' 57.3"W

• Reportedly, the ranch has been in operation since 2012, satellite images show the ranch emerged after 2011.

• The ranch is located about 7KM from Teuchitlan and 3KM from La Estanzuela.

• Satellite images from February 22, 2019, show a big amount of smoke coming from the ranch, backing the collective’s discovery of what they refer to as clandestine crematoriums.

• Satellite images match pictures of the ranch released by the government, collectives and media.

• The ranch had areas for forced training such as barbed wire and obstacle courses.

• Some victims have been identified from images of personal belongings found at the ranch.

Families have come forward to identify the belongings of their missing loved ones. Those identified include:

• Elda Adriana Valdez Montoya

• Pablo Joaquin Gomez Orozco

• Pablo Nuñez

• Carlos Jonathan Alejandro Zuñiga

As of September 4, 2025, only one person has been formally identified through forensic analysis of bone fragments.

Known Aggressors:

Izaguirre Ranch was used as a forced recruitment training and extermination facility by Cartel Jalisco New Generation. Ten men have been sentenced to 114 years in prison and have been ordered to pay the equivalent of 70,000 USD for the crimes of homicide and forced disappearance. The men are known as:

• Lennin (Kevin) “N”

• David “N”

• Gustavo “N”

• Christopher “N”

• Juan “N”

• Óscar “N”

• Erick “N”

• Luis “N”

• Ricardo “N”

• Armando “N”

Note: In accordance with Mexican legal practice, suspects are often reported by first name only.

Since the investigation is ongoing, others have been detained, including:

• Jose Ascension Murguia, Mayor of Teuchitlan

• 15 unnamed persons