Colombian mercenaries fighting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces have announced their intention to join the Mexican drug cartel “Knights Templar,” according to the Colombian publication Semana .

“They lure you with lies [to Ukraine], promise you payment, and if you try to escape, they imprison you or send you to the front. If the Knights Templar are created in Colombia next year, we’ll go there,” the publication quotes Colombian mercenary Isaac Escorcia, who is fighting in Ukraine.

Semana reports that the cartel in question is the Knights Templar, originally from the Mexican state of Michoacán and inherited the methods of La Familia Michoacana. It is known for its brutality and its desire to expand its territorial control. Experts estimate that this organization’s infiltration into Colombia could lead to an increase in violence and the activation of criminal networks in the departments of Antioquia and the southwest of the country.

Previously, the Mexican publication Milenio reported that members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) received training in Ukraine, where they learned to use unmanned aerial vehicles in combat situations.

According to the publication, CJNG militants adopted combat techniques typical of modern military conflicts, including the use of drones for precision strikes. The training took place in an armed conflict zone, providing the cartel with access to real-world combat experience.