Mayor of Teuchitlán Accused of Involvement with CJNG Training Operations

Prison cell block corridor with gated doors.

Mexican mayor José Murguía Santiago sits behind bars, arrested for alleged ties to a notorious cartel’s training facility, while families of the missing still search for answers about their loved ones.

Key Insights

José Murguía Santiago, mayor of Teuchitlán, Mexico, has been arrested for alleged collaboration with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)
The investigation centers on a ranch suspected of being used as a cartel training camp where human remains and personal items were discovered
While rights groups call it an “extermination camp,” Mexico’s Attorney-General claims there’s no evidence supporting this designation
The mayor previously claimed innocence, stating “I’m clean and willing to say what I know”
About a dozen others, including police officers, have also been arrested in connection with the investigation

Mayor’s Arrest Shocks Teuchitlán

Following months of investigation, authorities have detained José Murguía Santiago, mayor of Teuchitlán in western Mexico, over his alleged connections to a Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) training facility. The arrest marks a significant escalation in the probe of what some have called a “ranch of horror” in Jalisco state. Federal officials moved against the mayor despite his previous public denials of any wrongdoing. The case highlights concerning patterns of possible collusion between elected officials and criminal organizations that continue to plague regions of Mexico.

Prior to his arrest, Santiago maintained his innocence, stating: “If they want to investigate me, let them, I’m clean and willing to say what I know.” This statement contrasts sharply with the allegations now leveled against him by Mexican federal authorities, who are investigating potential omissions or direct complicity between local officials and the powerful cartel. The CJNG has rapidly developed into one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations since splitting from the Sinaloa cartel in 2010.

Mexican mayor arrested in connection over drug cartel training camp

A federal official said a mayor in western Mexico was arrested as part of a probe into a suspected drug cartel training camp, where #LadyGagaNaGlo #freevdm #MilkLove | May the 4th #linglingkwong pic.twitter.com/TrgnLQvG0x

— Newswire Law & Events (@NewswireLE) May 5, 2025

The “Ranch of Horror” Investigation

The investigation began after activists from Guerreros Buscadores discovered bone fragments and personal items at the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán. Human rights organizations fear the site served multiple sinister purposes: forced recruitment, training of cartel members, torture chambers, and killings of those who refused to cooperate with the CJNG. These concerns paint a disturbing picture of the cartel’s operations and their ability to operate with relative impunity in certain areas of Mexico.

“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.”

The property was discovered in September 2023, but human remains weren’t found until March 2024, raising questions about the thoroughness of initial investigations. In September 2024, authorities arrested 10 people at the site, freed two captives, and discovered a dead body along with skeletal remains. The attorney general’s office took over the investigation after complaints that evidence had been missed in earlier searches, suggesting potential negligence or deliberate obstruction in the initial investigation.

Conflicting Claims About the Site’s Purpose

Mexico’s Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz has confirmed the site was indeed a training center for the CJNG but disputed claims that it functioned as an “extermination camp.” According to Gertz, the bone fragments found were not recent, and fires at the ranch were not hot enough to dispose of human remains. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch echoed this assessment, stating there was “no evidence that it was an extermination camp.”

These official statements have drawn criticism from relatives of missing persons and human rights organizations, who believe authorities are downplaying the site’s true nature. Human Rights Watch described the location as an “apparent mass killing site.” The controversy underscores the ongoing crisis of disappearances in Mexico, where over 127,000 people are officially registered as missing, with Jalisco state recording the highest number of cases nationally.

Broader Implications for Mexican Security

The arrest of Mayor Santiago is part of a larger crackdown that has netted about a dozen suspects, including a local police chief and several officers. These arrests suggest a troubling level of infiltration by cartels into local government and law enforcement structures. The case illustrates the challenges facing Mexico in combating powerful criminal organizations that have developed sophisticated operations, including training facilities that mirror military compounds.

For families of the missing in Mexico, the discovery of such sites offers both hope for answers and the heartbreaking prospect of confirmation of their worst fears. The situation in Teuchitlán reflects the broader crisis of violence and disappearances that continues to affect communities across Mexico, particularly in regions where cartels maintain strongholds despite federal government efforts to combat their influence and operations.