In an investigation into the alleged cartel training grounds and killing areas in western Mexico, authorities have revealed how one of the world's most violent cartels uses tiktok to recruit gunmen.
This week, Mexican Secretary of Public Security Omar Garcia Halfucci revealed details on the March 20 arrest of Jose Gregorio “Comandante Lastra” Lastra Hermida, one of the leading recruiters of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation. Lastra was just below Gonzalo “El 90 or El Sapo” Mendoza Gaitan, the CJNG regional leader in Jalisco, Nayarit and Zacatecas.
According to Harfuch, Lastra and his associates used more than 39 Tiktok accounts to reach out to hundreds of individuals and seduce them with false recruitment. The group offered candidates between 4,000 and 12,000 Psos per week.
Mexican authorities arrested Jose Gregorio Lastra, CJNG leader who was responsible for recruiting and training the organization. (Credited SSPC de Mexico)
Those who accepted the offer were then asked to meet at the bus station where CJNG gunmen took them to Rancho Isagir. Upon arriving there, the individual was called and offered tactical gear and clothing for a month's training session as a CJNG gunman. After training, gunmen were sent to various regions of Mexico to strengthen the organization's ranks.
As reported by Breitbart Texas, Rancho Izaguirre sparked international outrage after activists reported discovering hundreds of shoes and other personal items from their property.
As part of the ongoing investigation of Rancho Izaguirre, authorities reported the arrests of Commandante Lastra and 48 people related to CJNG recruitment and training operations. According to Harfuch, Lastra was the director of recruitment and training from May 2024 until this month's arrest.
Editor's Note: The Breitbart News Foundation travels to Mexico City and the provinces of Tamaulipas, Coahuira and Nuevo Leon, recruiting citizen journalists to risk their lives and cartels silence the community. Writers will face certain deaths at the hands of various cartels that operate in those regions, such as the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, if pseudonyms are not used. Cartel Chronicles from Breitbart News Foundation It is published in both English and original Spanish. This article was written by LP Contreras in Mexico City.
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