## Discovery of Eleven Bodies in Tecate Graves; Twenty More Sought
### Primary Article
In Tecate, Baja California, the discovery of clandestine graves continues to unearth the grim reality of the region’s struggles with organized crime. Recently, authorities and members of a local search collective uncovered eleven bodies at Rancho Las Creaturas, located in the rural district of Cerro Azul. These findings are part of an ongoing investigation into several alleged burial sites for victims of criminal gangs.
The search at the ranch revealed three bodies—two male and one female—buried approximately five months prior, indicative of the violent activities hidden away in these secluded parts. This recent discovery is part of a larger search operation that has uncovered a total of eleven bodies so far this year.
Mónica Gabriela Mariscal Rodríguez, the founder of the search collective “Madres Hasta Encontrarte Tecate,” leads this initiative. Her personal mission began with the disappearance of her son in 2019 along the Tecate–Ensenada highway, igniting a broader effort to locate missing persons across the region. Over the years, the collective has painstakingly located more than fifty bodies, despite the unsettling conditions and dangers involved in these searches.
The search activities continue amidst a backdrop of challenging terrain and logistical barriers. The area’s geography with its hidden paths like El Hongo, Rancho Viejo, and Valle de Las Palmas, offers cover for illegal activities, compounded by the criminal gangs known as ‘halcones’ who monitor and report on local movements.
Authorities often play a supportive role during these searches, necessitated by complex legal and bureaucratic challenges that hinder access to suspected sites. Yet, these community-led efforts underscore a pressing need for greater transparency and accountability in managing crimes related to disappearances and clandestine graves.
### Secondary Article
### New Insights into the Plight of Tecate’s Missing
Ongoing investigations in Tecate have highlighted a region deeply entrenched in the crises of disappearances attributed to organized crime. New developments suggest that additional search areas could soon be revealed, as collective groups prepare for broader outreach efforts across multiple known burial sites.
According to insider information leaked from members who spoke under anonymity, there could be as many as twenty more grave sites yet to be explored. These sites, based on testimonies from former gang affiliates, could yield more bodies and provide crucial information for families desperate for closure.
Some of these suspected sites sit near critical water infrastructures, like reservoirs maintained by state commissions, which have previously been locations for grim discoveries. Similarly, other ongoing searches focus on riverbanks like those of the Tecate River, where past operations unearthed several bodies in various states of decomposition.
Central to these efforts is the community’s push for more collaborative governmental involvement. While tactical support from law enforcement agencies provides necessary back-up, the challenges also call for international oversight, as brought to light by multiple United Nations reports concerning the prevalent culture of impunity surrounding these crimes in Mexico.
The harrowing stories emerging from Tecate reflect a broader societal issue demanding comprehensive reform and better support systems for victims’ families. The search collects more momentum with each discovered clue, as the dedication of families and volunteers holds out hope against systemic barriers and buried truths.
For more updates on this ongoing issue and similar news stories, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.