Authorities in Mexico have uncovered a gruesome scene near Guadalajara, where 48 bags filled with human remainswere found in a clandestine grave in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco state.

The discovery was made about four weeks ago by a local search collective on a vacant lot. Officials from the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Thursday that forensic teams are still working to determine how many victims are represented among the remains.

“We need to make progress on the forensic issue so we can tell you how many victims this number of bags represents,” said Blanca Trujillo, Deputy State Prosecutor for Missing Persons.

The excavation has required heavy machinery due to the size of the area. The search is being carried out with support from the Guerreros Buscadores collective and Mexico’s National Commission for the Search for Persons.

⚠️ A Region Scarred by Cartel Violence

Jalisco — home to the powerful and violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — remains one of the hardest-hit states in Mexico’s ongoing crisis of disappearances. Official figures show more than 15,900 people are missing in the state, out of 127,000 nationwide.

The crisis has escalated since Mexico’s military-led drug war began in 2006. Similar graves have been found in the region, including the discovery of 34 bodies near a residential area in Zapopan just last year.

In February, the United States designated the CJNG as a “foreign terrorist organization,” identifying the group as a major trafficker of fentanyl — a synthetic opioid linked to thousands of deaths across North America.

🕯️ Ongoing Search for the Missing

Forensic experts are still analyzing the remains from the 48 bags to identify the victims and notify families. Meanwhile, search collectives continue their tireless work to uncover the truth behind Mexico’s missing — a humanitarian crisis that shows no signs of slowing down.