Academic playing role in project to find hidden graves in Mexico using drone technology

A UWE Bristol lecturer is playing a part in a project using drone technology to locate concealed graves in Mexico.

Dr Karina Garcia-Reyes has joined a project called FOUND, which is aimed at finding graves amid an alarming rise in disappearances in the country linked to organised crime.

The senior criminology lecturer said: “Drone technology is increasingly helping both families and authorities carry out more efficient searches. That means fewer risks for search groups and shorter waits for families when it comes to identifying their loved ones.”

FOUND’s experimental use of drones has already proven successful, with results published in September 2024. As part of the publication, Dr Garcia-Reyes co-authored a chapter analysing interviews with women from search groups who were involved in the initiative.

Following the success of the FOUND project, the State Prosecutor's Office for the Mexican state of Zacatecas reached out to Dr Garcia-Reyes, and co-researcher Miguel Moctezuma from the University of Oxford, requesting to bring the groundbreaking drone technology to aid official searches in the state. Recognising the urgent need, and with backing from the Prosecutor’s Office, Dr Garcia-Reyes applied for Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Project funding to support a series of training workshops to equip local civil servants with the skills to operate this technology and integrate it into the state's official search protocols.

In July, Dr Garcia-Reyes signed a collaboration agreement with the Zacatecas Prosecutor Cristian Paul Camacho, marking the official inauguration and opening of the training workshops. The ceremony brought together academics, media representatives, and search groups, securing ongoing support to address the forensic crisis and ensure the project’s continued impact.

After the inauguration event, the project launched on the ground in the state of Zacatecas with two intensive workshops aimed at advancing both policy development and technical methodologies for locating concealed graves. Co-ordinated by Dr Garcia-Reyes and Miguel Moctezuma, the sessions brought together civil servants, forensic experts and local stakeholders. The workshops were co-developed in collaboration with the research team based in the southern Mexican state of Jalisco, where the FOUND project originated.

Dr Garcia-Reyes said: “I’m very proud of the impact project’s results. The civil servants demonstrated genuine commitment and eagerness to learn, doing everything they can to help families find their loved ones as quickly as possible. They're committed to helping families but often lack the resources, so any support that can speed up searches is deeply welcomed.

“My hope for future projects is to continue these training workshops - there are several key areas we couldn’t cover this time, so that remains a priority. We’re also looking to move toward the identification phase, potentially bringing UK forensic expertise to Mexico. With over 50,000 unidentified bodies, this is a pressing issue that both authorities and search families highlighted as an urgent next step.”

Dr Garcia-Reyes, who has worked closely with groups of women searching for loved ones who have gone missing in Mexico, added: “Working on this project has been deeply rewarding both professionally and personally. I’ve gained valuable knowledge about drones and search techniques, but most importantly, I’ve had the chance to connect with search families who truly appreciate the support from the academic community.

“The biggest challenge from this project for me has been the emotional side - just imagining what these families are going through is absolutely heartbreaking.”

The BBC recently published a news article about the disappearances in Mexico: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg4rnr720yo