Baja California Sur prosecutors have identified a property in San José del Cabo where clandestine burials are suspected to exist, according to state authorities. Forensic teams have cordoned off the site and begun scientific processing to preserve evidence.
The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Enforced Disappearances (Fiscalía Especializada en Desaparición Forzada) located the property through an ongoing investigation. Authorities said they will not release the exact number of suspected burials until forensic work is complete.
A Troubling Pattern in Los Cabos
The discovery is the latest in a string of clandestine grave findings across the Los Cabos municipality this year. In April, human remains were found in a clandestine grave in the Santa Anita area of San José del Cabo. Between April 26 and May 1, searchers located three more clandestine graves in the San José del Cabo area, with at least four bodies recovered.
The pattern stretches back years. In July 2024, 13 bodies were found in 10 graves in Cabo San Lucas. In May 2024, 18 bodies were found in 14 graves in La Paz, the state capital about two hours north. In 2021, investigators found three homemade crematoriums in San José del Cabo surrounded by the remains of 28 people.
Forensic Work and Investigation Ahead
The state attorney general’s office (PGJE) has pledged a professional investigation that respects human rights standards. Forensic specialists will work to identify any remains found at the site. In previous cases, authorities have invited relatives of missing persons to provide genetic profiles to help with identification.
Enforced disappearances and clandestine burials have been linked to organized crime activity throughout Baja California Sur. A 2023 report from Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior counted 5,698 clandestine graves nationwide, though experts say the true number is likely higher.
San José del Cabo sits at the eastern end of the Los Cabos tourist corridor, about 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas. The area draws thousands of foreign residents and visitors each year. While the clandestine grave sites have been located away from tourist zones, the discoveries point to a persistent security challenge in the region.
The story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú, a Baja California Sur news outlet.