Pigs, AI, Drones Aid Search for Mexico's 'Disappeared'

In Mexico, a grim search is underway for tens of thousands of individuals 'disappeared' by drug cartels, with new technologies offering a glimmer of hope. Families, often facing extreme danger, are using innovative methods like pig carcasses to simulate burial sites, aiding in the study of vegetation growth over remains. This project, involving volunteer groups and universities, seeks to accelerate the identification of clandestine graves.

Alongside these unusual techniques, authorities are employing advanced tools such as drones equipped with multispectral cameras and electrical resistivity tomography to map underground soil disturbances. These technologies help detect anomalies indicative of buried bodies, significantly improving the efficiency of searches. The scale of the crisis is immense, with over 100,000 people officially missing, a tragic consequence of the nation's ongoing drug war.

While these technological advancements provide crucial support in locating missing persons, they do not resolve the root cause of the violence. Officials acknowledge that preventing disappearances is paramount, but for now, the focus remains on utilizing every available tool to reunite families with their missing loved ones as swiftly as possible. The search continues amidst a deeply entrenched crisis.