Ciudad Juárez, México (EFE).- Authorities in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua reported Friday the discovery of 60 embalmed bodies inside a funeral home operating as a crematorium in the border city of Ciudad Juárez.
The grisly scene was uncovered Thursday night in the Granjas Polo Gamboa neighborhood after residents alerted authorities to foul odors and suspicious activity at the property.
Municipal police entered the building and found a hearse with corpses inside, as well as dozens of bodies stacked in two rooms.
State investigators, forensic experts, and personnel from the State Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COESPRIS) quickly sealed the property and began an inspection and inventory of the remains.
Health authorities flag serious violations
At a press conference, Carlos Tarín, head of Coespris, confirmed that all 60 bodies showed signs of embalming, reducing the risk of a public health emergency.
However, he condemned the storage conditions.
“The handling of these bodies violated every rule for the proper disposal of human remains,” said Tarín. “They were not refrigerated or stored in adequate conditions. For that reason, the facility was immediately sealed, and an administrative proceeding has begun, which could lead to fines or the revocation of its sanitary license.”
Tarín clarified that the crematorium was not operating clandestinely, it had state-level permits to conduct funeral and cremation services.
Nevertheless, the Ciudad Juárez city government said it lacked municipal authorization and zoning approval for commercial use.
No foul play suspected, says prosecutor
Carlos Salas, chief prosecutor for the northern region of Chihuahua, said no criminal activity is suspected at this stage. All of the bodies had been identified by relatives, and the corresponding death certificates were in order.
“The accumulation happened because the crematorium’s furnace could not keep up with demand,” Salas explained. “None of the deceased were homicide victims. All died of natural causes and were processed according to protocol.”
One person was detained for questioning, and authorities are investigating the business owner’s potential administrative liability.
Human rights organizations expressed concern about possible broader malpractice.
“This raises serious questions about the oversight of funeral services,” said Yadira Cortés, an activist with the Red Mesa de Mujeres. “We are concerned about potential irregular networks between funeral homes and crematoriums.”
Growing scrutiny amid Mexico’s disappearance crisis
The discovery comes amid Mexico’s broader crisis of disappearances, with more than 127,000 people officially listed as missing.
Authorities across the country continue recovery efforts for unidentified remains.
Just one day earlier, 34 bodies and 169 bags of human remains were exhumed from a clandestine grave in Jalisco state, further fueling demands for oversight of funeral, forensic, and public health practices nationwide.
Investigations in Ciudad Juárez are ongoing, with COESPRIS and the state attorney’s office continuing inspections at the crematorium and other funeral service providers in the area. EFE
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