The recruitment of adolescents by organized crime has become one of the main concerns of authorities and civil organizations in the Mexican state of Jalisco (western part of the country), where criminal groups have begun to direct their strategies towards minors between 13 and 16 years old through deception, false job offers and the participation of people close to the victims.

The alert arises after several cases registered in recent weeks in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, where six teenagers disappeared in different events and were later found alive. Although the investigations remain open, the authorities maintain possible forced recruitment by criminal organizations as one of the main lines of investigation.

The Secretary of Security of Jalisco, Juan Pablo Hernández, recognized that criminal networks modified their methods to recruit new members. If before they mainly looked for young people of legal age, now they focus their efforts on adolescents who are still in high school or have just completed that educational stage.

Organizations dedicated to searching for missing people claim that they are receiving more and more reports from families whose children disappear after accepting supposed job opportunities with high salaries and few demands. The offers usually promise temporary jobs outside their communities, conditions that end up being a trap to incorporate them into illicit activities.

Recruitment goes beyond social networks

Research shows that the tactics used by criminal groups have evolved. In addition to contact through social networks, recruiters now use public spaces such as shopping malls, restaurants, department stores and convenience stores to establish contact with teenagers.

The authorities also detected that some young people are persuaded by acquaintances, friends, neighbors and even family members who previously had contact with these organizations. This closeness makes it easier to build trust and reduces suspicions among victims and their parents.

According to statistics from the Jalisco Missing Persons Search Commission, between June 11 and July 11, 165 search files were issued, of which 43 corresponded to minors, a figure that specialists consider worrying because it reflects the vulnerability of this sector of the population.

Civil organizations warn that the phenomenon shows the level of presence that organized crime has reached in various communities of the state, where daily coexistence with criminal structures increases the risk for girls, boys and adolescents.

Congress analyzes a law to prevent the phenomenon

As cases increase, the Congress of Jalisco continues the process to approve specific legislation aimed at preventing and combating the recruitment of minors by criminal groups. The initiative seeks to establish protection mechanisms for girls, boys and adolescents, strengthen preventive actions and coordinate care for victims and their families. Although the project has already advanced in legislative committees, it has not yet fully come into force.

The authorities also reinforced the call to mothers, fathers and guardians to remain attentive to changes in behavior, new friendships, less than credible job offers and activities outside the routine of adolescents, factors that could indicate recruitment attempts by criminal organizations.

Specialists consider that the problem requires a comprehensive response that combines security, prevention, education and community support, because the recruitment of minors no longer depends solely on contact on the Internet, but extends to everyday spaces and circles of trust, which makes its detection difficult and increases the risk for thousands of young people in Jalisco.

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