While the Mexican government tries to combat drug trafficking, criminal groups are growing stronger and one of the key pieces to achieve this is hiring Colombian soldiers, who are experts in explosives and their training has taken them to international conflicts such as the one in Ukraine.

And although the objective of the world's armies is to protect to the country and its population, the truth is that the economic factor plays an important role, since the military face low salaries while risking their lives, which makes the juicy sums of money that the cartels offer them tempting and, for some, irresistible, even if it means becoming what the authorities are fighting.

The testimony of a Colombian soldier to the Mexican newspaper Milenio revealed the way in which Mexican cartels manage to co-opt elements; the modus operandi is very simple and benefits from two key factors: the corruption of the authorities and economic needs. This way, experts join their ranks, which is notable given the increase in violence in Mexico.

Recruitment

According to the Colombian soldier, offers from drug traffickers arrive through WhatsApp, Telegram or phone calls, even if they have not requested them. The fact that they obtain names and numbers only reveals that they are buying personal data, which could be inferred from corruption by the Colombian people in charge of that data.

“Mostly through WhatsApp, in groups, they infiltrate and share them (the contacts). For example, just yesterday one arrived for Ukraine, but they send many to the Mexican cartel, as a mercenary. They are giving a very good sum of money,” the active Colombian soldier told Milenio.

According to the soldier, he is an explosives specialist, a lancer, a paratrooper, and a first aid worker. His salary in the Colombian Army is 4 million Colombian pesos per month, equivalent to approximately $915. Drug traffickers increase profits by 400%; contracts are signed for one year and the salary is 16 million Colombian pesos per month.

The Transfer

Once the soldiers accept the conditions, which include a ban on cell phones and complete isolation, they are transferred to Mexico by two routes: by plane entering Mexico City and Cancun, and by sea, using a route that begins at the border between Ecuador and Colombia, along the Pacific coast.

This route, the maritime one, is the same one followed by boats loaded with Colombian cocaine that have Mexico as their final destination.

One of the reasons why Colombian soldiers are so attractive to Mexican cartels is the training they receive from foreign militaries such as the United States, within the framework of national security of Colombia, Israel, Spain and England.

The Colombian Consul General in Mexico, Alfredo Molano Jimeno, said he has detected the participation of at least one active member of the Colombian armed forces in the recruitment of former military personnel to work in Mexico as mercenaries in the service of of organized crime.