Eight-year-old with guns: Children in Mexico are recruited to fight the drug cartels

Due to the violent and dangerous situation in southwestern Mexico, a community-based police force was established to which eight to 14-year-old children were attached as minors. The force was set up to protect the residents of Chilapa, suffering from wars between the violent drug cartels, following the elimination of ten musicians last week

Eight-year-old with guns: Children in Mexico are recruited to fight the drug cartels

(In the video: Mexico drug cartel shot at zero range)

About 20 children were recruited to a community police force in the town of Chilapa, southwest Mexico, following a deadly drug cartel attack in the area. Some children, aged eight to 14, were distributed rifles and other batons to be used in police operations.

In an attack last week, ten musicians were killed in an ambush prepared for them when they returned from a party. More than 20 children lost their ancestors in the event of the ambush on the band car "Sanasion". Some of the children in the makeshift police force are reportedly the sons of the killed musicians.

Locals said the children were trained to protect their town from gang attacks. They were dressed in olive green shirts and covered their faces with bandanas. The unique unit was stationed on the road leading to the town, with some observing exercises similar to military training with weapons.

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Children's training with rifles (Photo: EL SUR GUERRERO)

Children in Mexico are recruited to fight drug cartels, January 25, 2020 (Photo: EL SUR GUERRERO, official website)

There are many violent events in the town, such as gang wars and cartel wars in the area. The serious crime situation has led many towns and villages to establish their own community-police force.

The deadly attack against the band was attributed to a gang called "Los Ardisos," which attacked groups of villagers in the past. According to local media, the purpose of the attack was to send a message to Mexico's President Manuel Manuel López Overador about the lack of security forces in the region. The president hoped to implement a conciliatory approach with the cartels, and to avoid confrontation with them. The policy he promoted is called "Hugs - Not Balls."

The state of Guerrero in southwest Mexico is one of its violent states, and the cartel wars on drug trafficking routes are waged nonstop. In many remote places in Mexico, many villagers form armed groups to protect their communities from cartels, and this is not a new phenomenon, but this time children have been joined by these forces.

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Some children were handed guns and others batons. Police Force Children (Photo: EL SUR GUERRERO)

Children in Mexico are recruited to fight drug cartels, January 25, 2020 (Photo: EL SUR GUERRERO, official website)