Young ManS Disappearance Reveals Cartel Recruitment Tactics Targeting Mexican Youth
TEUCHITLÁN, JALISCO – The tragic case of Josué Guerrero ‘Cheche,’ a young man lured into cartel service under false pretenses, underscores a disturbing trend of Mexican drug trafficking organizations increasingly exploiting social media and deceptive job offers to recruit minors and young adults. Guerrero’s story, revealed by el Financiero, highlights how cartels like the Mayos are actively targeting vulnerable individuals, promising employment only to ensnare them in a life of violence and exploitation.
this escalating recruitment drive,documented in a recent report by Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (Segob),utilizes platforms like TikTok and Fortnite to identify and groom potential recruits. The Segob report details how cartels present a façade of chance, masking their true intentions with promises of financial stability and a better life. This tactic is especially alarming given the current climate of insecurity in mexico, where 2025 is on track to be the deadliest year yet for the madres buscadoras - the mothers searching for their missing children.
Guerrero’s case came to light amidst investigations surrounding Rancho Izaguirre, a property near Teuchitlán, Jalisco, allegedly used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as a training camp. In April,searching mothers discovered human remains and objects at the site,prompting a federal investigation that exposed errors in the initial local inquiry led by the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office. The former mayor of Teuchitlán, José Murguía Santiago, is currently facing legal proceedings for alleged ties to the CJNG related to the Rancho Izaguirre property.
The discovery at Rancho izaguirre and the ongoing search for missing persons underscore the brutal reality of cartel activity in Jalisco and across Mexico. The Segob report and cases like Guerrero’s serve as a stark warning about the evolving methods cartels employ to maintain their power and expand their reach, preying on the hopes and vulnerabilities of young people. Authorities are now working to understand the full extent of this recruitment network and develop strategies to protect at-risk youth.