The state prosecutor's office in Jalisco uncovered a grave discovery in Guadalajara, Mexico. Forty-five bags, believed to contain human remains, have been found in a ravine, with characteristics matching those of seven missing call center staff.

According to El Universal newspaper, the victims are said to have worked at a call center that may be linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Jalisco State Attorney General, Luis Méndez, said the missing workers were only employed for two or three months.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, preliminary investigations indicate that the body parts found in the bags may be the missing call center employees. 

Human remains to be identified

The staff disappeared between May 20 and 22, were part of a group of seven individuals who went missing in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, located in western Mexico.

Luis Joaquín Méndez Ruíz, a prosecutor from Jalisco, revealed that the bags containing the human remains were discarded on a lot with an extremely steep slope, adding to the sinister nature of the discovery. 

Forensic experts are currently working to determine the exact number of victims and their identities. The Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences is collaborating with the families of the missing individuals to assist in the identification process.

Still missing

 Mexico has been grappling with a grave epidemic of disappearances, affecting over 100,000 Mexicans and migrants, leaving their families desperate for answers.

 Mexican authorities have faced criticism for their slow response in finding the missing persons. Maureen Meyer, Vice President for Programs at the Washington Office for Latin America (WOLA), asserts that this delay may be attributed to various factors, including a lack of capacity given the high number of cases and some official collusion with criminal groups.

The drug trade has been identified as a major catalyst for the high number of missing person cases. And some bodies resurface years later. 

Official figures reveal that since 2018, over 1,500 bodies have been discovered in Jalisco state alone. The statistics highlight the severity of the situation, with an alarming increase in the number of bodies found each year.

Crime rates have surged in certain areas of the United States. But it is not comparable to the problems south of the border.  Mexico continues to face a daunting challenge with kidnapping, human trafficking, and an overall high homicide rate. 

Despite recent incidents involving American citizens being kidnapped and killed in Mexico, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has argued that Mexico is a safer country. However, the evidence suggests otherwise. And Mexico’s overall homicide rate is among the highest in the world.