In a shocking turn of events, it has been revealed that the five young men who a Mexican drug cartel brutally murdered were lured into a meeting with the gang under the pretense of a fake job offer. The victims were all students and friends between the ages of 19 and 22. A horrifically graphic video circulated online, showing them being duct-taped, beaten, stabbed, and beheaded. According to a report by El Universal, the men had sought employment as private security and were deceived into meeting with the Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) cartel, who ultimately killed them after they refused to join their ranks.
The victims were identified as Roberto Olmeda, Diego Lara, Uriel Galvan, Jaime Martinez, and Dante Cedillo. They had contacted a call center in the hopes of securing high-paying jobs with attractive benefits. Little did they know that the CJNG often managed these call centers for the forced recruitment of individuals. The report suggests that the young men were enticed by the promise of employment, only to find themselves trapped in a dangerous situation.
The Attorney General’s Office in the Mexican state of Jalisco, known as the Fiscalía del Estado de Jalisco, has yet to confirm the details of the report. It remains unclear which of the two major drug cartels, the CJNG or the Sinaloa cartel, is responsible for the video and the deaths. El Pais reported that the mark “Pure MZ” seen in the released video is attributed to Mayo Zambada, the leader of the Sinaloa cartel.
Mexican authorities recently located the property where the photo and video were allegedly filmed, leading to the discovery of four burned and decapitated bodies. Although the bodies have not yet been identified, they were found inside a building near the place where the young men were kidnapped and later photographed in captivity. Additionally, a fifth body was found inside a burned-out car in a nearby area.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed his deep regret over the killings during a news briefing, acknowledging the involvement of drug cartels. However, he provided little additional information about the case. Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation from Jalisco authorities.