Wife Identifies Missing Husband’s Effects at Cartel Ranch; A Haunting Reality in Mexico
Rubi Cruz recognized her husband’s belongings at a suspected cartel camp, increasing concern over forced recruitment amid a rising death toll and missing persons in Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel uses false job offers to lure young victims. Families are grappling with loss as searches uncover mass graves, illustrating the violent consequences of society’s deteriorating safety.
Rubi Cruz identified her husband’s belongings at a suspected Mexican drug cartel camp, fearing his victimization by forced recruitment. The discovery of personal items, including a shirt and wallet among remains at a ranch in Jalisco, underscores the violent tactics employed by criminal groups, amid over 120,000 missing persons nationwide.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel reportedly recruited individuals with false job offers, providing firearms training at the Izaguirre Ranch. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch noted that testimonies from arrested cartel recruiters revealed that those who resisted training or attempted to escape often faced fatal consequences.
The incidence of disappearances has intensified since the government’s war on drug trafficking commenced in 2006, resulting in approximately 480,000 murders. Veronica Cruz worries about her son, Robert Reyes, who disappeared after being lured to Jalisco for work, and she suspects he may have been forced into cartel activities.
Months after his disappearance, Robert informed his sister he was now a hitman and feared for his life. Tragically, a friend later reported his death in a shooting incident. Many families, similar to Rubi and Veronica, grappling with the loss of their loved ones, express a desperate need for answers amidst the ongoing violence.
Despite the government’s claims of removing social media recruitment pages, offers for jobs still circulate on platforms like TikTok, targeting the vulnerable population. Jalisco accounts for about 12% of the approximately 127,000 missing people in Mexico, predominantly young males coerced into cartel service to maintain control in the territory.
Rubi Cruz maintains hope for her husband’s survival, while Veronica Cruz seeks closure, stating her pursuit is for knowledge of her son’s fate. The recent unearthing of mass graves in Mexico, containing numerous bodies and various remains, illustrates the brutality of cartel violence and the challenges advocates face searching for missing individuals. Collectives searching for the lost frequently report that organized crime syndicates employ gruesome methods to eliminate traces of their crimes, complicating recovery efforts.
The troubling trend of forced recruitment by drug cartels in Mexico underscores a devastating reality for families of the missing, as exemplified by the heartbreaking experiences of Rubi and Veronica Cruz. Despite government actions against these criminal networks, the ongoing violence and tragic outcomes highlight a desperate need for both justice and accountability. As families continue to seek answers, the rising toll of disappearances reflects the relentless grip of organized crime in the nation. The hope for survival remains, albeit faint, as the scars of this violence persist.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
