# Criminal exploitation and recruitment in Oaxaca > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/criminal-exploitation-and-recruitment-in-oaxaca > Updated: 2026-10-15T21:20:05.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Authorities in Oaxaca, Mexico, have conducted operations targeting criminal recruitment and exploitation tactics. In late September, a coordinated effort involving the Mexican Navy and state prosecutors rescued a 15-year-old boy who had been lured from Oaxaca to Jalisco by a fraudulent TikTok job offer. The minor was reportedly held against his will and forced to perform labor for organized crime. By mid-October, investigations by the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office (FGEO) revealed a broader criminal network known as ASAEO. This organization allegedly utilized nine addiction rehabilitation centers to recruit vulnerable individuals. According to Prosecutor Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla, victims were forced to work off treatment debts by serving as extortionists, lookouts, or debt collectors for predatory “gota a gota” loans. Law enforcement raids in September and October led to several arrests and the discovery of suspected narcotics during searches of these facilities. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-15: Oaxaca authorities dismantle criminal network using rehab centers for extortion Oaxaca authorities have intervened in nine rehabilitation centers allegedly used by the ASAEO criminal group to recruit vulnerable individuals for extortion and predatory loan collection. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/oaxaca-authorities-dismantle-criminal-network-using-rehab-centers-for-extortion ### 2026-09-22: Oaxaca authorities rescue teenager lured by fake TikTok job offer A 15-year-old from Oaxaca was rescued in Puerto Vallarta after being lured by a fake security guard job offer on TikTok and held captive by a criminal group for nearly a month. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/oaxaca-authorities-rescue-teenager-lured-by-fake-tiktok-job-offer --- Cite as: Criminal exploitation and recruitment in Oaxaca. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/criminal-exploitation-and-recruitment-in-oaxaca