Universidad Iberoamericana publishes report on child recruitment by organized crime in Mexico

The Universidad Iberoamericana Programa de Seguridad Ciudadana published a booklet examining how organized crime recruits children and adolescents in Mexico. The document notes that 1,338 children and adolescents died from violence in 2024, and as of September 5, 2025, 7,941 people who disappeared between 2019 and 2024 remained missing.

The report states that Mexico lacks a specific registry to track the recruitment of minors by criminal groups. Recruitment often begins through threats, false job offers, or the establishment of trust. Criminal organizations also exploit a child's need for belonging, recognition, or a perceived future. The study finds that even children who attend school and have present parents can be recruited.

To address this, the university proposes four areas for action involving authorities, digital platforms, schools, families, and communities. The first priority is to measure and understand the phenomenon by creating a specific registry and investigating cases to better identify the mechanisms used for recruitment.