The article reports on the forced recruitment of minors by criminal groups in Zacatecas, Mexico, linking it to disappearances of teenagers aged 12 to 17. As of August 28, 13 cases have been registered, with seven women and six men reported missing across seven municipalities. The phenomenon extends beyond Zacatecas, as evidenced by the case of 'La China,' a 19-year-old who operated as a recruiter for a criminal group and was found with weapons and fake ID documents. In Jalisco, three adolescents disappeared in July, with their movements traced through two Zacatecan municipalities before being located alive in Sinaloa. A psychologist specializing in child victims describes witnessing young individuals armed and dressed like soldiers, highlighting the alarming reality of children being used as combatants.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue of forced recruitment of minors by criminal organizations as a systemic problem rooted in organized crime and state failure. It emphasizes the vulnerability of youth and the exploitation by criminal networks, using emotive language and expert testimony to highlight the '





