Mexico investigates alleged cartel recruitment in Ukraine
Original reporting: Nuevo Laredo TV
What happened
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico is investigating whether alleged members of the CJNG and a Sinaloa Cartel faction appeared in videos from Ukraine. Authorities are checking the recordings’ authenticity, possible recruitment channels and how Mexican nationals may have reached the conflict.
Reporting and context
Mexico investigates alleged cartel recruitment in Ukraine
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico is investigating whether alleged members of Mexican criminal organizations traveled to Ukraine after videos circulated online referring to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Chapiza faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Sheinbaum said the case was presented to Mexico’s security cabinet and that officials were determining whether the recordings are authentic.
The videos appear to show alleged combatants in Ukraine referencing the groups. Sheinbaum said authorities were also examining how Mexican nationals might have entered a conflict that began in February 2022 and what their possible role could be. Asked about their objectives, she said they may have been recruited by a private company involved in the conflict or by a government-linked military organization, without identifying a recruiter or purpose.
Mexico has not established contact with Ukrainian authorities about the matter, Sheinbaum said. The president indicated that Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry could make contact if necessary. Nuevo Laredo TV reported that the investigation must first establish whether the videos are genuine and then determine how the alleged combatants reached Ukraine. The report also cited a September Washington Post account, based on unnamed U.S. and Mexican officials, about alleged efforts by Mexican drug-trafficking organizations to recruit Colombians with military experience in Ukraine for drone expertise; that claim remains attributed to the cited report.