Mexico’s powerful drug cartels are turning to former soldiers from Colombia to bolster their ranks, prompting authorities to reject dozens of Colombians attempting to enter the country, according to Mexico’s security chief.
Omar García Harfuch made the revelation on Tuesday, following the arrest of 12 Colombians last week in the western state of Michoacan. Nine of those detained were former soldiers, while three were civilians with military training.
The relationship between Mexican and Colombian organized crime groups dates back years, with Colombian cartels initially smuggling cocaine and heroin to the US via boat or plane before switching to land routes through Mexico as US authorities cracked down on trafficking in the Caribbean.
Decades of conflict in Colombia have produced tens of thousands of former soldiers, paramilitaries, and guerrillas with combat experience. These veterans have been hired guns in various conflicts worldwide, including the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and ongoing fighting in Ukraine.
In recent weeks, Mexican immigration authorities rejected 69 Colombians trying to enter Mexico, some of whom claimed they had been coopted by a criminal group. García Harfuch said that both the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels were actively recruiting Colombians.
Colombia’s ambassador to Mexico, Fernando García, expressed concern last week that the arrests could hinder negotiations between the two countries aimed at reducing the number of Colombians barred from entering Mexico.
In March, the Colombian government announced that talks with Mexico were progressing, with mechanisms in place for both countries to verify information about individuals seeking to enter Mexico. However, the recent developments have raised fresh concerns about the potential involvement of former soldiers in Mexican cartels.
Former military personnel from other countries have also been linked to Mexican organized crime groups. In 2011, the feared Zetas cartel recruited former members of Guatemala’s special forces Kaibiles, further highlighting the willingness of powerful cartels to exploit international connections and resources.
Source: AP News
