Organized crime groups recruit children aged 6 to 17, integrating them into their ranks through minor non-violent crimes and activities such as messaging, even leading to contract killing, according to a report by the Secretariat of Governance. Recruitment is facilitated through social media, video games, threats to family members, promises of money, and direct contacts, used by drug cartels to attract new members.
Recruitment activities involving minors take place in 18 of the 32 states of Mexico, with Baja California leading, followed by Colima, Chihuahua, Mexico City, and the State of Mexico. According to the official report, in areas with high crime rates, minors aged 6 to 12 can be employed as messengers and to influence other minors, who are then sexually exploited.
Organized crime groups use minors for various activities such as “halconeo” (lookout), drug transportation, non-violent thefts, digital extortion, collection of floor fees, surveillance of safe houses, and persuading others to join crime. Additionally, young people aged 13 to 17 are assigned to drug production, sales, trafficking, kidnappings, contract killing, and body disappearances.
Children from backgrounds of family violence, low income, family addiction, gangs, school dropout, poverty, low self-esteem, and depression are the most vulnerable to being recruited by drug cartels, as highlighted in the report by the Secretariat of Governance.
