In Mexico City, a revived probe into a ranch in western Mexico has unearthed grim details of recruitment strategies used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most formidable criminal organizations. This formidable cartel, deemed highly violent and efficient by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, recruits new members through online tactics and coercive job offers. Individuals lured by phony guarantees of employment, especially as security personnel with inexplicably high salaries, faced fatal consequences if they resisted the cartel’s grip.
The Jalisco cartel, emerging into the forefront after a split from the Sinaloa cartel following the 2010 death of Sinaloa’s Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel Villarreal, has swiftly expanded under the leadership of Nemesio Rubén “el Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. Oseguera’s notoriety surged this week when an image of him was showcased during a music event in Jalisco, drawing the ire of government officials who pledged to investigate. Oseguera remains a wanted figure with a $15 million bounty from the U.S. for information leading to his detention.
Clashes between the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels over territorial control, especially along Mexico’s southern boundary with Guatemala, have been intense. Both organizations are labeled as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the U.S. The recent arrest of José Gregorio Lastra, a key figure in Jalisco’s recruitment activities, marks a significant stride by law enforcement against the cartel.
The modus operandi of the Jalisco cartel in acquiring new members is diverse, ranging from voluntary enlistees attracted to the cartel’s lifestyle, to targeted efforts aimed at recruiting ex-military and police figures who frequently assume leadership roles. Most alarmingly, there are instances of forced recruitment exemplified by deceptive online job offers. Recruits, once deceived and captured, faced severe indoctrination at a ranch in Jalisco, where they underwent weapons and physical endurance training. Any dissenters risked brutal consequences, as corroborated by a survivor’s account noted by Mexico’s Public Security Secretary, Omar García Harfuch.
The operational hierarchy of the cartel features a clear command structure, with Oseguera at its apex, supported by regional commanders and drug operation chiefs. This powerful cartel, reportedly surpassing its rivals in territorial influence, maintains a significant presence across numerous Mexican states and even extends its reach to roughly 100 countries, according to intelligence.
In a span of fewer than two decades, Jalisco has emerged as one of the most commanding criminal entities in Mexico, thriving in part through its strategic alliances with other gangs, which has facilitated its penetration into traditionally strong Sinaloa territories. While Sinaloa struggles with internal discord following the capture of prominent figures like Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, Jalisco has thrived, driven by its capability for extreme violence and the burgeoning trade of fentanyl.
Questions regarding the complicity of local law enforcement in facilitating the cartel’s dominance in specific areas have been persistent. The discovery of the Jalisco ranch and subsequent arrests of individuals, including three local police officers allegedly linked to disappearances, highlight systemic corruption. The involvement of local authorities, which allowed the ranch to operate with near impunity until recently, underscores the ingrained corruption that has facilitated the cartel’s entrenchment in several states. These issues, as noted by experts, illustrate the pervasive entwinement of criminal and public safety entities.