Mexican drug cartels are seeking United States veterans and troops as hired murderers. This is becoming a more common practice in recent times. Because they can offer high pay and expensive drugs for their skills, more and more US military members are gaining employment from Mexican drug lords.
This has been happening for years, officials say. RT reports that typically, servicemen will be hired and paid thousands of dollars to kill a target within the United States . From government informants to rival gang members to people trying to leave the mob, there have been many targets.
Fred Burton, vice president of STRATFOR Global Intelligence, says that this problem has plagued the US military for at least the last six years. Burton finds it very troubling that soldiers with special military training and field combat experience are finding employment from Mexican drug cartels.
Beside carrying out deadly missions for Mexican gangs, experienced soldiers are being hired as instructors. Their valuable knowledge of weapons and fighting experience are seen as a valuable resource. Hired to share these skills with the drug cartels’ other hitmen, some are paid quite well.
The New York Post reports that in 2009 Army Pfc. Michael Apodaca carried out a hit, killing a cartel snitch . Stationed at Fort Bliss, Apodaca was paid $5,000 by the Juarez Cartel for the mission. The 22-year-old was later sentenced to life in prison.
Last year Army Lt. Kevin Corley was charged for working as a hitman and instructor for the Los Zetas Cartel. Corley was busted after accepting a $50,000 offer from undercover agents. He was also trying to get cocaine as payment.
Earlier in May a lawyer who had worked for the Gulf Cartel was assassinated in a Fort Worth mall parking lot. The murderer has not yet been found. Authorities, however, say the precision of the execution shows the hitman was likely a person with expert military training.
Officials have not said why this trend has been increasing in recent years. It may be a result of the increasing power and influence Mexican drug cartels are gaining within the United States and the rising number of military veterans coming home.
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