An alliance of civic and social organizations reported that at least 30,000 children are involved in some way in organized crime activities with the drug trafficking cartels in Mexico.
For example, a 13 year old girl was reportedly paid around $800 a month for being a look-out for the Zetas cartel.
Between December 2006 and December 2011, at least 1,188 children have been killed due to violence surrounding the drug trafficking industry.
Source: Tania L. Montavio, “Children in Mexico: Criminals or victims?,” CNN, January 17, 2012.