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Jalisco New Generation drug cartel hands out Christmas toys to children few blocks from police station

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is said to have filled several pickup trucks with gifts that were handed out to residents in the city of Guadalajara

GUADALAJARA, NEW MEXICO: Members of Mexico's most powerful drug gang gave early Christmas presents to kids just a few blocks from a police station. According to the Mexican newspaper Reforma, Jalisco New Generation Cartel hitmen drove a convoy of vehicles through the El Retiro area of Guadalajara, New Mexico, last week.

In a video posted on Tiktok, adults and children could be seen lining up on either side of the street as henchmen driving pickup trucks decorated with an inflatable Santa Claus, a snowman, and lights, arrived on the streets, courtesy of cartel leader, Ricardo Ruiz. At one point, the cartel hitmen stopped in the middle of the street and began distributing gifts from inside a pickup truck. A man could be heard appearing to support the presence of the armed gang, as per Daily Mail. "These are (Ricardo Ruiz's) people," he said. "They say he doesn't give anything. Let's see, why doesn't the government do the same thing? They will or won't."

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Authorities claim that Ruiz is in charge of the 'Grupo Elite' (Elite Group), a ruthless gang that operates in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima. This group is controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The cartel's holiday activities follow a strategy used by South American criminal organizations — gain favor with the public during special days or festivals to blunt negative public opinion about their illegal commercial dealings.

Famous drug-lord Pablo Escobar frequently gave out expensive presents, especially during the holidays as a sign of appreciation to his loyal supporters. The Medellin slum of Moravia was home to poor families at one point, and the Colombian drug lord commissioned the construction of more than 200 homes there as well as more than 50 soccer fields. Additionally, he ordered his goons to deliver a ton of gifts before Christmas.

In December 2021, the sons of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán organized a festival for citizens of the western state of Sinaloa. Live musicians entertained the invited guests as at least eight cars were raffled off during the narco fiesta. Video footage also showed the drug trafficker's initials written in black on a sticker attached to rows of toys and other items piled together, as reported by Daily Mail.