Financial Crime World

Violence in Mexico: A Growing Concern

Kidnapping and Robbery

A recent report by VIPE estimates that a staggering 94% of kidnapping cases went unreported in 2019, highlighting the severity of the issue in the country. In 2020, Mexico saw a significant decrease in robbery cases, with 604,265 reported incidents, compared to 758,032 in 2019.

  • The most common type of robbery was “auto and auto-related theft,” followed by “other” robberies and those targeting financial or commercial institutions.
  • Ecatepec de Morelos in the State of Mexico had the highest number of robbery cases nationwide, with 21,291 incidents reported. Other municipalities with high numbers included Guadalajara, Jalisco; Querétaro, Querétaro; Tijuana, Baja California; and Iztapalapa, Mexico City.

Violence Against Women

The number of femicides in Mexico increased by 4% in 2020, with the State of Mexico having the highest number of cases. According to ENVIPE, 93.7% of crimes against women went unreported in 2018.

  • In 2020, there were 54,000 reported cases of violence against women, with many more believed to have gone unreported.
  • The issue has sparked widespread protests and calls for greater action from the government.

Organized Crime

A significant portion of violent crime in Mexico is attributed to organized crime groups, particularly those battling for control of the drug trade. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has gained prominence in at least 23 out of 32 Mexican states, with a focus on areas once dominated by its former-parent organization.

COVID-19 and Organized Crime

  • The COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted organized crime operations, but many groups took advantage of the void left by the government to provide humanitarian assistance and enforce quarantine curfews in affected communities.

Government Responses

Human rights advocates have criticized the growing number of human rights complaints alleging serious misconduct by the military and National Guard. The government has been accused of downplaying the issue of femicides, with President López Obrador claiming that 90% of reports are fake.

  • Tensions over U.S.-Mexico security cooperation intensified in 2020, especially after the arrest of former Mexican defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
  • The government has approved new provisions to the National Security Law, curbing the role of foreign officials operating within Mexico.

U.S.-Mexico Cooperation

The two countries have negotiated a new framework for security cooperation, focusing on:

  • Reducing violence
  • Promoting public health approaches to drugs
  • Preventing transborder crimes
  • Disrupting criminal networks

The agreement aims to revive bilateral security cooperation and address the root causes of violence in Mexico.