Youtubers and Influencers Criticized For Creating Content At Mexican Extermination Camp

A national tragedy in Mexico has turned into a media circus as influencers and social media personalities flock to the the Izaguirre Ranch, an alleged confinement, training, and extermination center used by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

More than two weeks after a group of activists discovered human remains on a property less than 40 miles west of Guadalajara, Jalisco, the situation has rapidly shifted from grieving families seeking justice to internet personalities exploiting the tragedy for likes and views.

As Infobae Mexico reported, a group of influencers and some political commentators aligned with Morena —the country's ruling party— were the first ones allowed inside the Izaguirre Ranch during the latest rounds of investigations conducted by federal agents. The decision to allow internet personalities go in before members of Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, the group who found the camp, created commotion on social media, with journalists and activists criticizing the move.

Investigative journalist and crime expert Óscar Balderas called the decision "revictimizing behavior," suggesting that authorities didn't follow the law when it comes to crime scenes. "They are useless even for that," Balderas wrote.

In another tweet, Balderas jokingly said that Youtubers "miraculously" turned into forensic experts.

Laura Sánchez Ley, another journalist, called the action a "lack of respect" after influencers and internet personalities were seen taking pictures of themselves at the site which was allegedly used by the Jalisco cartel to cremate human bodies.

Some of the internet celebrities that were allowed to tour the Teuchitlán property included Jorge Manuel Suárez Azcargota, Juncal Solano, Polo Puga as well as political influencers such as La Catrina Norteña and Revista Polemón.

While touring the property, Azcargota published a video in which he revealed that the Mexican government invited them to visit the property to record everything they saw.

Although internet celebrities who visited the Izaguirre Ranch claim that there were no signs of human remains nor of the clandestine crematoriums, volunteers, activists and family members of some of the victims say the property and the crime scene were manipulated by authorities.

"This looks like a museum, not like a crime scene," a member of Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco said.

Other volunteers are claiming that places around the property where human remains, clothes and other types of evidence were found have also been manipulated. Patricia Sotelo, mother of one of the potential victims, said that when the group returned for their most recent investigation, those areas were cleaned and renovated.

"They painted over it, they swept the place and tidied up everything. It's a circus, a mockery of our pain," Sotelo said.