NEWSCHANNEL10.COM - Drug cartels are seeking younger and younger recruits, and they're finding them all across Texas schools.

The Department of Public Safety is alerting parents all across the state regarding the increased presence of drug cartels looking to lure children into transporting narcotics and illegal immigrants across the border.

Elisabeth Mandala was set to graduate from her Houston high school this past may.

The 18-year-old Texas senior had plans to go to college, but that all came to an abrupt end.

Her body was found dumped in the back of a pick up truck in Mexico.

It's believed the violent drug cartels recruited her to smuggle illegal immigrants across the border.

"They are recruiting young children, older adults and elderly adults," Dumas ISD Superintendent Mark Stroebel said. "It's a scary thought."

His district includes students living not only in Dumas, but the small town of Cactus.

We're told the area has changed over the years. Some call the City of Cactus, "The Town With No Rules" after a drug related murder went unsolved and just recently, the entire police force quit.

Cactus Police Chief Eloy Ortiz declined to talk with us about the drug problem in his town. We met with him personally two weeks ago, but would only tell us the drug problem is getting better.

"Once these cartels have their hooks in you, there's no getting out," State Trooper Gabriel Medrano said.

He's well aware of the problem that could... 

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