The Attorney General's Office of the Mexican state of Jalisco reported this Thursday on an operation by security forces at a property in the town of Tecalitlán, allegedly used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as a clandestine hospital. The intervention allowed for the rescue of eight men supposedly recruited by the criminal group and the arrest of another six people at the site.
"They were there against their will. All are men between 16 and 43 years old. One of them said he was from Mexico City, another from Guerrero, two from Michoacán, and one more from Sinaloa," detailed the state attorney, Salvador González de los Santos, regarding the rescued individuals at a press conference later reported by a statement from the Attorney General's Office.
During the search, agents secured drugs, various medications, and medical materials at the property, which was used "as a shelter for people who had some injury or required physical recovery." Orthopedic boots, crutches, a scale, tactical boots, and a hundred cartridges were also found.
"The timely operational intervention also allowed for the arrest at the site of five men and one woman, aged between 21 and 48; three from Jalisco, one more from Tepic, another from Colima, and one more from Michoacán, identified as the probable captors of the victims," specified the Attorney General's Office of the Mexican state.
The eight victims were transferred to Guadalajara to be attended to by medical personnel and reunite with their families, while the six arrested were placed at the disposal of the judicial authority, accused of human trafficking and forced disappearance.
The investigations began after the report of the disappearance of a 20-year-old young man in San Pedro Tlaquepaque, who had gone to a supposed job at a ranch. Following that report, investigators managed to locate him at the property in Tecalitlán intervened by the authorities.