Wife Identifies Missing Husband’s Belongings at Cartel Training Camp in Mexico
Rubi Cruz identified her husband’s belongings at a suspected cartel training camp, raising fears he may be a victim of forced recruitment. Over 120,000 people are missing in Mexico, with many abducted by drug cartels seeking recruits. The government’s efforts to combat recruitment have proven difficult, as social media continues to advertise cartel jobs. Cases like those of Rubi and Veronica Cruz highlight the tragic personal impacts of the violence inflicted by criminal organizations.
Rubi Cruz identified her missing husband’s belongings, including a wallet and T-shirt, among personal effects found at a suspected cartel training camp in Jalisco, Mexico. The discovery of these items heightened fears that her husband, Fermin Hernandez, had fallen victim to forced recruitment by criminal groups. Since 2006, Mexico has struggled with violence, resulting in over 120,000 missing persons, largely attributed to drug trafficking operations.
Fermin was kidnapped in 2021 by gunmen from their home in Tala, sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg during the abduction. Recently released images from a civil society group investigating the ranch sparked grief in Rubi, who expressed pain and sadness upon seeing her husband’s belongings. Jalisco’s drug cartel is known for deceptive recruitment tactics, offering false job opportunities to lure individuals into their ranks and arming them with firearms as part of their training.
Veronica Cruz, another concerned mother, worries that her son Robert Reyes also became a victim of forced cartel recruitment. Robert disappeared after traveling to Jalisco for a purported painting job. He previously communicated from the area before sending a distressing message about his involvement with a cartel and expressing fear for his life.
Despite efforts from the government to eliminate cartel recruitment online, social media platforms like TikTok continue to advertise jobs within these criminal groups. Specifically, Jalisco accounts for 12% of the nearly 127,000 missing persons in Mexico, primarily young men coerced into joining gangs. A researcher noted that victims typically come from impoverished backgrounds with limited access to education.
In 2024 alone, about 30 young individuals reportedly went missing after attending job interviews in Guadalajara. While Rubi Cruz maintains hope in finding her husband alive, Veronica Cruz seeks closure regarding her son’s fate. Recent discoveries of mass graves and reports of cartels using extreme measures to eliminate victims highlight the chilling state of violence and disappearance in Mexico.
The ongoing crisis of violence and forced disappearances in Mexico is exemplified by the cases of Rubi Cruz and Veronica Cruz. Both women illustrate the devastating impact of drug cartels on families and communities, revealing how vulnerable young people can fall prey to criminal organizations. The increasing reports of missing individuals, deceptive recruitment practices, and the discovery of mass graves underline the severity of the situation in the country, where the drug war escalates amidst ongoing governmental challenges.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
