Reports show rise in cartel recruitment via social media

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Recent studies show an increase in recruitment tactics by cartels on various social media platforms.

These studies report that various cartel leaders are actively recruiting kids to steal vehicles across the border for money in return.

The 4 Investigates team is looking into how your vehicle could be stolen for quick cash.

Across Texas, there are 24 task force groups with a focus on stopping car thieves and busting the gangs they roll with, including cartel groups in Mexico.

In Brownsville, police have made over 500 car theft arrests involving dozens of teens with alleged gang or cartel ties.

It is believed that several of the teens involved in auto thefts in Brownsville were allegedly recruited to steal cars for as little as $500.

Antonio Perez, an auto theft expert and investigator with the Brownsville Police Department, says the auto thefts began to escalate several years ago.

"It started with the GMCs — GMC Sierra, Chevy Silverado, any GM product. The Cadillacs as well," Perez told the 4 Investigates team.

Perez says that now, the demand for the cartels in Mexico has shifted towards Jeep and Dodge vehicles.

"What we suggest for people to buy is a steering wheel lock," Perez said. "That's the most inexpensive thing that you can buy. One of the most expensive things you can buy is a GPS tracker."

Perez says that although he does not recommend that auto theft victims cross the border to find their vehicle, law enforcement can follow up with a recovery check using GPS.

Cartel recruitment not only includes auto theft, but drugs, assault, and a whole host of crimes.

Reports show that cartels are luring teens through online gaming, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and apps you may have never heard of.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies took a deep dive into the dirty tactics, reporting cases of children as young as six years old being recruited.

The Network for Children’s Rights in Mexico reported in 2021 that around 30,000 teenagers between ages 12 and 15 had been recruited by the cartels, and the number of children is still unknown.

The report concludes with “without a plan to stop the cartels from replenishing their ranks, the United States will continue to spend billions of dollars on human capital at the border, putting U.S. Servicemen and women in danger.”

A report by Colegio de Mexico found various combinations of emojis and hashtags with hidden meaning connected with cartel recruitment.

A ninja emoji may have a hidden message used to refer to Sicario, also known as a cartel assassin.

A devil or the mask emoji may have a hidden message for crime, the report states.

The big takeaway from every source: don’t just monitor, learn the language of what’s in your child’s social media algorithm.