Drug cartels in Mexico frequently use the 

burning of bodies as a method of disposing of victims and intimidating rivals. This practice has been documented in various news reports, investigations, and the discovery of clandestine “extermination” sites across the country. 

Key aspects related to this practice include:

• Disposal of Evidence: Burning bodies is used to destroy evidence and make identifying victims difficult. This complicates the work of authorities and families searching for missing loved ones.
• Intimidation Tactics: The gruesome discovery of burned remains serves as a brutal show of force and a psychological tactic in territorial disputes between rival gangs, such as the Northeast Cartel and the Gulf Cartel.
• Clandestine Graves/Sites: Activist groups, often composed of victims’ relatives, have found ranches with ovens and bone fragments used by cartels (such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or CJNG) as extermination sites.
• High Profile Cases: This method of disposal has been noted in several high-profile incidents, including the discovery of the bodies of five missing musicians from the group Grupo Fugitivo near the Texas border in mid-2025, and the notorious 2014 case of the 43 missing Ayotzinapa students.
• Official Response and Challenges: Mexican authorities often face criticism for their handling of these cases, with accusations of negligence or even complicity. The sheer scale of disappearances and clandestine burial sites presents a significant challenge for federal and state investigators. 

The practice highlights the extreme violence associated with organized crime in Mexico and the ongoing crisis of missing persons in the country.