Cargo Theft in Mexico Surges 6.1% in August 2025: SESNSP

Despite official figures showing a 6.1% rise in cargo theft in August 2025, discrepancies remain between federal data and private-sector reports, raising questions about the true scope and geographic concentration of this crime in Mexico.

Cargo theft in Mexico increased by 6.1% in August 2025, according to the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP). The State of Mexico led the surge, with 247 reported cases, representing a 24.7% rise compared to July. Other states also recorded mixed trends: Puebla registered 111 incidents, down 14.6%, while San Luis Potosi reported 36 cases, a 5.2% decrease. In contrast, Michoacan recorded 32 thefts, up 3.22%, and Oaxaca saw the steepest jump with 14 cases, a 133.3% increase.

Assistcargo, in its bimonthly Cargo Theft Report, highlights that while the State of Mexico remains the most affected state, incidents in the fourth bimester of 2025 fell by three percentage points compared to the previous period. However, the company projects an increase toward year-end, in line with higher freight movements across industries. Municipalities most affected include Ecatepec de Morelos, Tecamac, Toluca, Cuautitlan Izcalli, and Naucalpan de Juarez.

Puebla continues to rank second nationwide, where drivers often face fake checkpoints and are stripped of personal belongings, vehicles, and cargo. The most impacted municipalities were Esperanza, Puebla, Palmar de Bravo, Tehuacan, and Tecamachalco.

In Guanajuato, theft remains on the rise. The state’s strategic geographic location makes its highways an obligatory corridor for multiple industries, turning them into hotspots for criminal activity. Criminals frequently operate at night, setting up road obstacles such as spike strips to force drivers to stop. Incidents were most concentrated in Celaya, Salamanca, San Luis de la Paz, San Jose Iturbide, and Irapuato.

Jalisco, by contrast, has seen a decline in heavy cargo vehicle thefts, though cases involving private cars have risen. When thefts do occur, they tend to target high-value shipments such as technology and pharmaceuticals. Guadalajara, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, Zapopan, Lagos de Moreno, and Zapotlanejo were the hardest-hit municipalities.

Michoacan, meanwhile, has experienced a significant surge in cargo theft, ranking among the five most affected states in 2025. Here, violence against drivers, including the use of firearms, remains a common feature of thefts, reports SESNSP. Incidents were concentrated in Morelia, Uruapan, Quiroga, Lazaro Cardenas, and Cotija.

The most targeted products were food and beverages (27%), construction materials (12%), textiles (10%), auto parts (8%), technology (8%), electronics (7%), pharmaceuticals (6%), wines and spirits (5%), and other goods (17%). A notable increase was recorded in construction materials such as wire and steel, as well as textiles — both raw materials and finished goods like clothing and footwear. Wines and spirits also emerged as highly attractive to criminal groups due to their commercial value.

Tractor-trailers were the most stolen (41%), followed by light trucks under 3.5 tons (22%), “torton” trucks (19%), “rabon” trucks (15%), and full trailers (3%). More than half of the thefts (54%) occurred while in transit.

The riskiest days were Thursday and Friday (19% each), followed by Tuesday (17%) and Wednesday (16%). The most dangerous hours were early morning, between midnight and 6:00 AM (31%), and the morning shift from 6:00 AM to noon (29%).

High-Risk Highways

The highways with the highest incidence of cargo theft include:

• Mexico–Puebla Highway 150D (San Marcos Huixtoco–San Martin Texmelucan)

• Arco Norte Highway (Jilotepec–San Martin Texmelucan)

• Mexico–Queretaro Highway (Cuautitlan Izcalli–Pedro Escobedo)

• Puebla–Veracruz Highway 150D (Maltrata–La Tinaja)

• Queretaro–Irapuato Highway (Apaseo El Grande–Cerro Gordo)

• Salamanca–Leon Highway 43D (Cerro Gordo–León)

• Queretaro–San Luis Potosi Highway (San Jose Iturbide–Santa Maria del Rio)

• San Luis Potosi–Matehuala Highway 57 (La Pila–Matehuala junction)

• Guadalajara–Lagos de Moreno Highway 80D (Tepatitlan–San Juan de los Lagos)

• Acatlán de Juarez–Guadalajara Bypass (Acatlan–Zapotlanejo)

• Guadalajara–Atlacomulco Highway 15D (Panindicuaro–Atlacomulco)

• Cordoba–Minatitlan Highway 145D (La Tinaja–Acayucan)

• Mexico Outer Loop Highway (Zumpango–Chalco)

• Matehuala–Monterrey Highway 57 (Matehuala–San Roberto junction)

• Mexico–Pachuca Highway 85D (San Pedro Xalostoc–Tizayuca)

Seasonal Trends and Public Perception

Assistcargo reports that, historically, cargo theft spikes in the second half of the year, increasing up to 16% of annual cases due to higher freight movements during the holiday season.

INEGI’s National Survey of Victimization and Perception of Public Security (ENVIPE) highlights widespread public concern: 64.2% of the population cited insecurity as their top concern. Out of all respondents, 75.1% labeled traffic police as corrupt, 63.8% state police, 65.1% municipal police, 32.5% the National Guard, and 25.7% the army.

In the State of Mexico, distrust is even higher, with 81.7% of residents over 18 years old calling traffic police corrupt.