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'Army of Kids': Mexico Trains Children Against Drug-Criminals

Published January 26th, 2020 - 07:28 GMT

A vigilante group in southern Mexico publicly displayed a troop of 19 armed, masked children, Wednesday, who have been recruited to act as “community police”, AP reported.

The children appeared to range in age from about 5 to 15, and they carried shotguns and rifles.

One day after the group revealed that it was using children as young as six as 'recruits' for armed defense patrols, Mexico's president said Thursday that drug cartels too are recruiting ever-younger kids.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that because social programs are giving more youths opportunities to study or work, drug cartels are having trouble finding gunmen, leading them to recruit children.

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Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

A boy aims a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

A boy aims a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children line up as thay are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children line up as thay are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children play basketball during a break as they are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children play basketball during a break as they are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

A boy looks on as he holds a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. AFP

A boy looks on as he holds a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. AFP

Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Members of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force patrol the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Members of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force patrol the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

View of a classroom at an abandoned school in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) vigilante group trains children as young as five near El Paraiso de Tepila so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

View of a classroom at an abandoned school in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) vigilante group trains children as young as five near El Paraiso de Tepila so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

A boy aims a rifle as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

A boy aims a rifle as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy aims a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children line up as thay are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children play basketball during a break as they are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy looks on as he holds a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. AFP
Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Members of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force patrol the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
View of a classroom at an abandoned school in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) vigilante group trains children as young as five near El Paraiso de Tepila so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy aims a rifle as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy aims a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy aims a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children line up as thay are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children line up as thay are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children play basketball during a break as they are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children play basketball during a break as they are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy looks on as he holds a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. AFP
A boy looks on as he holds a gun as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. AFP
Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Children are tought to use weapons by the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Members of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force patrol the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Members of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force patrol the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
View of a classroom at an abandoned school in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) vigilante group trains children as young as five near El Paraiso de Tepila so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
View of a classroom at an abandoned school in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) vigilante group trains children as young as five near El Paraiso de Tepila so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy aims a rifle as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
A boy aims a rifle as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico, on January 24, 2020. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP
The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminal groups operating in the area. Pedro PARDO / AFP

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