Cargo Theft Grows by 9.7% in September 2025: SESNSP

Mexico’s cargo theft statistics continue to send mixed signals. While official data from the Executive Ministry of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) show a 9.7% increase in September 2025, Omar García, Minister of Security and Citizen Protection, told the Senate that the crime actually declined 27%, citing progress under the federal government’s Balam Strategy and the consolidation of the National Guard.

According to SESNSP, the State of Mexico led the surge with 300 reported cases, up 21.45% from August. Other states also saw increases: Puebla recorded 120 incidents (up 8.1%) and San Luis Potosi 44 cases (up 22.22%). Meanwhile, Michoacan and Oaxaca, both with 12 incidents, registered decreases of 62.5% and 14.2%, respectively.

National Guard Deployment and Results

García says that cases declined due to the deployment of 1,200 National Guard officers across 12 high-risk states, supported by drones, helicopters, and investigation units monitoring 22 highway sections. These operations, he says, have boosted cargo recovery by 61% and reflect the success of the National Guard’s integration into the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA).

The minister also underscored enhanced intelligence and investigative capabilities, emphasizing the expanded role of the National Intelligence Center in coordinating interagency data and identifying key criminal networks.

As part of these intensified efforts, the National Guard launched the “Zero Cargo Transportation Thefts” strategy on July 9, 2025, which has reduced theft in key logistics routes by up to 54%, according to authorities. The initiative marks a shift from reactive policing to a proactive, deterrent-based approach, leveraging technology to secure Mexico’s most critical logistics corridors.

The core component of this strategy is the Vehicle Inspection Tower, an internally designed system that integrates radio frequency antennas capable of covering three lanes simultaneously and processing up to 60 license plates per minute at speeds up to 150 km/h from 20m away.

“These towers detect vehicles traveling between 40km/h and 150km/h. They are placed at strategic points where a reaction group is stationed. Once the system sends an alert, the group immediately pursues the vehicle to verify its status,” says Major Balam Cerrito, Head of the Communications Routes Station of the National Guard in Cuautitlan Izcalli.

The towers are linked to the Public Vehicle Registry (REPUVE), allowing for automatic identification of vehicles with theft reports. They also include signal jammer detectors, providing an early tactical advantage against criminal groups that block GPS signals during theft.

The initiative involves 585 personnel, 195 vehicles, and 10 inspection towers, supported by an aerial fleet of three helicopters, three unmanned aerial vehicles, and 22 drones, says Hamlet Toledo, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mexican Army. Intelligence units and coordinated communications platforms further enhance its effectiveness.

Since its launch, authorities report 306 arrests and 1,502 vehicles recovered. Theft has reportedly dropped 54% on the Mexico-Puebla route, 50% on the Mexico-Queretaro route, and 27% on the Mazatlan-Culiacan route.

Insurance Data Reveal Persistent Risks

Parallel to this, the Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS) reports that between October 2024 and September 2025, theft of insured heavy vehicles rose 0.2%, while recoveries declined 0.73%. Theft of semi-trailers increased 1.5%, with recoveries down 4%. The most affected brands include Kenworth, Freightliner, and International.

The State of Mexico, Puebla, Veracruz, Guanajuato, and Jalisco remain the top states for heavy equipment theft, with municipalities like San Luis Potosi, Puebla, Queretaro, Ecatepec de Morelos, and Cuautitlan Izcalli among the hardest hit. In September 2025, 719 insured heavy equipment thefts were reported, a 1.37% drop from August, while recoveries rose 21.28%.

According to Augusto Ramos, Vice President, Grupo RAME, cargo theft in Mexico has evolved into sophisticated criminal operations using fake blockades, armed convoys, signal jammers, and short kidnappings. Beyond the economic impact, these incidents disrupt supply chains and undermine investor confidence.

While initiatives such as the “Zero Theft” plan and closure of illegal access points along routes like Mexico-Queretaro and Mexico-Puebla aim to curb the trend, experts warn that long-term solutions depend on: technological infrastructure such as dynamic arches and secure rest stops; coordinated action among federal, state, and local authorities; and private-sector participation in prevention and emergency response.

“At the heart of it all lies the right to free transit. Every illegal roadblock, unauthorized checkpoint, or unjustified delay translates into millions in losses and erodes investor confidence in Mexico as a logistics hub,” says Ramos.