Narco Wars: Santiago Meza Lopez - “El Pozolero” - Made Stew From Victim’s Bodies, Might Help Identity Missing Victims Of The Narco Wars

The January 22 arrest of Santiago Meza Lopez might bring closure to Mexican families who have lost loved ones in Baja California’s ongoing drug wars. Known as “El Pozolero,” (The Stewmaker) Meza had admitted to stuffed bodies into barrels of lye on behalf of drug cartels.

A helpful sort of fellow, he is.

 According to Meza, his process for disposing of bodies included filling a barrel with water and bags of lye, lighting a fire underneath, and bringing the liquid to a boil before dumping a body into the bubbling mixture. After 24 hours, he would dump the remains in a pit and set them on fire. Because the resulting pink liquid resembles “pozole,” Meza referred to his job as “making stew.” His activities went unreported because, in the words of a neighboring pig farmer, “It’s best to be ignorant of such diabolical things.”

El Pozolero apparently liquified bodies for lieutenants of the Arellano Felix drug cartel, which is thought to be responsible for thousands of deaths and missing people in the area. The day after his arrest, family members of the dead and missing showed up with pictures of their loved ones, demanding that authorities ask El Pozolero about the identity of his victims. 

Groups representing victims of these drug wards estimate there are over 1,000 missing in Baja California. They also claim these cases have been bungled or deliberately ignored by law enforcement officials. Fernando Ocegueda, president of the Citizens United Against Impunity and the father of a missing college student, has made plans to visit Mexico City to request a personal audience with Meza. Families hope that his inside knowledge of these drug wars will provide them with answers and perhaps some closure. 

That may be difficult to come by, though, considering the compound where Meza has said he has liquified bodies over a ten year period was built a mere six month, according to neighbors. Federal agents have dug around the site searching for samples of human remains, but have had no luck so far. 

Families want answers from man who says he dissolved 300 people [LA Times]