On 4/7, Mexican authorities arrested the director and an employee of a private crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, in northern Mexico. They face charges related to the handling of bodies and remains.

The arrests followed the discovery of more than 383 uncremated bodies piled up in several rooms at the crematorium. Some of the bodies had been there for up to two years. "The bodies were scattered, in no particular order, piled on top of each other on the floor," said Eloy Garcia, communications officer for the Chihuahua state prosecutor's office.

Police stand guard outside the crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on 1/7. Photo: AFP

Police stand guard outside the crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on 1/7. Photo: AFP

Garcia said the crematorium owner simply embalmed the bodies for preservation without cremating them, while their relatives were given fake ashes.

Local prosecutor Cesar Jauregui said authorities have only identified 27 of the deceased. "We are searching for relatives to inform them", he said. "We have examined 148 other bodies."

According to Jauregui, the crematorium owner continued to accept bodies despite the facility being overloaded and unable to process them. However, local authorities did not specify whether the bodies were victims of gang violence.

Mexico, a country heavily affected by organized crime, has faced a crisis in its forensic system for years. Mortuary facilities are overwhelmed by the large number of bodies requiring processing, as well as a lack of staff and funding.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, CBS, AP)