Sinaloa Cartel Recruiting Youth in Mexican Rehabilitation Centers

A report by the International Crisis Group, titled “La guerra de los herederos en Sinaloa”, documents that the Sinaloa drug cartel has turned addiction rehabilitation centers and some prison facilities into recruitment hubs for adolescents and young adults. Interviews with over 50 people conducted between June 2025 and May 2026 show that these youths now account for about 40 % of homicide victims and half of the missing persons in the state. Cartel members exploit the vulnerability of drug‑dependent youths by offering drugs as payment, applying pressure, and using unregulated private rehab centers to enlist them. The study cites overcrowded adolescent detention centers, economic need, a desire for belonging, and a lack of targeted social programs as key factors. Recruits often start with low‑risk tasks such as surveillance before being compelled to participate in armed confrontations. The report also notes that Governor Rubén Rocha, accused by the United States of drug trafficking, remains in his home without federal protection.