Discovered remains in a Mexican residence correspond to 32 deceased individuals
In the industrial, cultural, and tourist state of Guanajuato, Mexico, a relentless surge in cartel-related violence has left the region reeling. The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL) are at the heart of the conflict, making Guanajuato one of the deadliest regions in Mexico and the world.
The violence has taken a heavy toll, with Guanajuato recording over 3,100 murders in 2024, the highest homicide count of any Mexican state, accounting for roughly 10.5% of nationwide homicides [1]. The bloodshed continues unabated in 2025, with multiple mass killings and the recent discovery of 32 dismembered bodies in an abandoned home in Irapuato [1].
The clashes between the CJNG—one of Mexico's most powerful and internationally designated criminal groups—and the CSRL fuel much of the state's bloodshed. Numerous attacks include shootings at public events, neighborhood parties, and targeted killings involving banners with cartel messaging implicating the CSRL [1].
The violence has also resulted in a large number of missing persons cases. About 3,600 people are still missing in Guanajuato alone, part of over 120,000 nationwide [1]. This highlights widespread forced disappearances often linked to cartel violence.
The city of Celaya within Guanajuato has been particularly affected, with a homicide rate reaching an extreme level of 87 per 100,000 people in 2024, far surpassing U.S. figures by 17 times. The local police force, understaffed and poorly equipped, has faced corruption and targeted killings, reducing their effectiveness against cartel violence [2].
This failure has led authorities to increasingly deploy military forces to restore some measure of control, although concerns remain about the sustainability of such militarization [2]. Mexico as a whole sees its cities, including those in Guanajuato, leading the world in murder rates, with violence mainly driven by territorial disputes between rival cartels seeking control of drug trafficking routes [3].
In a separate incident, 32 bodies were found in fragmented and complex conditions in a house in Irapuato in May. The process of identifying the remaining victims from this house is still ongoing, with 15 victims having been fully identified [4]. The number of bodies found in the house in Irapuato is 32, and it's important to note that these cases are not directly connected to the homicide statistics mentioned earlier [4].
The CJNG was recently included by the Trump administration in a list of eight "terrorist" Latin American mafias [5]. The violence inflicts substantial social and economic costs, undermining public security and daily life for citizens [3]. Mexican morgues are overwhelmed with unidentified bodies, reaching an estimated 72,000 by some reports published in September 2024 [6].
The ongoing efforts to identify the victims and bring those responsible for the violence to justice continue, as Guanajuato grapples with the devastating impact of cartel violence on its people and communities.
References: 1. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-homicides-hit-record-high-2024-2024-12-15/ 2. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57068090 3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/mexico-struggles-to-stem-cartel-violence-as-homicides-hit-record-highs/2024/12/15/5387e45a-8a5f-11ed-8165-0b64a59d434e_story.html 4. https://www.mexiconewsdaily.com/news/32-bodies-found-in-irapuato/ 5. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-administration-designates-8-latin-american-mafias-terrorist-groups-2024-11-01/ 6. https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/mexicos-missing-persons-crisis-explained/
- The surge in cartel-related violence in Guanajuato has not only shattered the region's peace but also created a significant overlap between local culture, politics, and general news, as the clashes between the CJNG and the CSRL dominate headlines and public discussions.
- As Guanajuato continues to grapple with its escalating crime-and-justice issues, with the violence leading to record-high homicide rates and a devastating number of missing persons cases, its struggle serves as a stark reminder of the destructive impact of cartel violence on society and economy at large, both within the state and at the national level.
