Mexico's missing persons crisis

When Rubi Cruz recognised her husband's belongings among personal items found at a suspected Mexican drug cartel training camp, she feared the worst that he had become a victim of forced recruitment.

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The discovery of bones, shoes and clothing at a ranch in the western state of Jalisco has shone a spotlight on the ruthless tactics of violent criminal groups in a country where more than 120,000 people are missing.

Ms Cruz's husband Fermin Hernandez, then 33, was kidnapped in 2021 from his home in the town of Tala near the Izaguirre ranch by gunmen who shot him in the leg.

She spotted what she believes are his personal items, including a wallet and T-shirt, in images released by a civil society group that went to look for the remains of missing persons at the site last month.