Wife Identifies Missing Husband’s Belongings at Cartel Recruitment Site in Mexico

Rubi Cruz identifies her husband’s belongings at a cartel recruitment site, fearing he is a victim of forced recruitment. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel employs violent tactics, reflected in the rising number of disappearances in Mexico exceeding 120,000. Families continue to search for their missing loved ones amidst ongoing cartel violence and recruitment strategies.

Rubi Cruz identified her missing husband’s belongings at a suspected cartel training camp, fearing he may have been forcibly recruited. This discovery from a site in Jalisco has illuminated the violent methods employed by drug cartels, amidst an alarming statistic of over 120,000 people reported missing in Mexico.

Her husband, Fermin Hernandez, was abducted in 2021 by gunmen who shot him. Cruz recognized his T-shirt and wallet among items revealed by a civil society group at the ranch and expressed her deep sorrow, stating, “I felt a lot of pain, a lot of sadness.” She wore a shirt that proclaimed, “your wife is looking for you.”

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, designated a terrorist organization, reportedly attracts recruits through deceptive job offers. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch disclosed alarming accounts of coercion and violence in recruitment, revealing that individuals who resisted training were killed.

Since Mexico’s war on drugs commenced in 2006, approximately 480,000 individuals have been murdered, fueling a crisis of disappearances. Veronica Cruz, mother of missing teenager Robert Reyes, fears he too was forcibly recruited after he went to Jalisco for work. Despite attempts to protect him, he succumbed to the cartel’s manipulations. His last message relayed distressing news of a friend’s death, indicating the dangerous environment he faced.

Despite government efforts to dismantle cartel recruitment on social media, job offers persist, particularly on platforms like TikTok, accompanied by promises of meals and lodging. The Jalisco region notably accounts for twelve percent of the nation’s missing persons, predominantly affecting disadvantaged youth.

Cruz maintains a glimmer of hope for her husband’s return, while Veronica Cruz, though less optimistic, seeks closure regarding her son’s fate. Recent months have seen discoveries of mass graves, underscoring the ongoing brutality of cartel activity, with reports of the use of incineration to erase victims’ identities.

As families of the missing individuals continue to search for answers, the pervasive threats of forced recruitment and violence remain primary concerns in the ongoing fight against drug cartels in Mexico.

The troubling narrative of Rubi Cruz and Veronica Cruz highlights the tragic reality of forced recruitment by drug cartels in Mexico, a situation exacerbated by a significant rise in disappearances linked to cartel violence. With over 120,000 individuals missing, families are left in distress, yearning for closure. Despite government efforts, social media remains a tool for recruitment, demonstrating the relentless grip of these criminal organizations on vulnerable populations.

Original Source: www.cbsnews.com