How Latin American Mercenaries in Ukraine Become Assets for Mexican Drug Cartels
New York Post reports Brazilian and Colombian mercenaries fight in Ukraine, gain drone warfare skills and later join Mexican drug cartels as prized recruits.
Journalists at the New York Post report that Latin American mercenaries are fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain combat experience for criminal use later. The article focuses on citizens of Brazil and Colombia.
According to the newspaper, after serving in the conflict in Ukraine, these fighters move on to Mexico, where they join drug cartels and can earn around 2,000 dollars a month. It is also noted that the cartels often recruit not only mercenaries, but former Colombian military personnel as well.
The reporters write that the skills of these soldiers have become even more valuable to cartels and hired gangs after some Colombians gained experience in a technologically advanced war in Ukraine — a conflict that, as they point out, is completely different from the low-tech insurgent environment in Colombia.
The New York Post adds that in Ukraine these mercenaries quickly learn how to operate drones and, within just a few months, are able to put these skills to use. Citing data from the Mexican army, the outlet notes that drug cartels are increasingly deploying drones against local military forces.
As for their service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the article states that Latin American recruits are lured by promises of high pay and comfortable conditions. In practice, however, such fighters are used as «cannon fodder», face poor treatment, and many of them are killed.