Cargo Theft Surges Across Mexico’s Vital Freight Corridors

Cargo theft in Mexico continues to escalate, posing a serious threat to the country’s logistics and economic stability. According to the most recent data from March provided by the Executive Ministry  of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), cargo theft incidents rose by 7.12% compared to February.

The states most affected include the State of Mexico, Puebla, Michoacan, San Luis Potosi, and Nuevo Leon. These regions represent some of the country’s most vital logistics corridors, further amplifying the impact of these criminal acts.

A Robbery Every 33 Minutes

The Mexican Association of Private Security and Satellite Industry Companies (AMESIS) tells Reforma that a cargo robbery occurs every 33 minutes on Mexican highways. In just the first two months of 2025, over 2,000 incidents were registered — a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Rodrigo Larracilla, Secretary, AMESIS, highlights a disturbing rise in violence and the use of weapons against truck drivers, with a quarter of all incidents occurring along the Mexico-Queretaro highway.

Other dangerous routes include Mexico-Puebla, Orizaba-Puebla, Naucalpan-Toluca, Lagos de Moreno-San Luis Potosi, Mexico-Pachuca, and San Luis Potosi-Queretaro. The delay in initiating operations due to bureaucratic processes in filing reports, along with victims’ fear of retaliation, often leaves authorities a step behind.

Private security sources also warn that criminals often possess insider information on high-value shipments. In light of this, AMESIS is urging the deployment of more National Guard personnel on the roads to deter and respond to these crimes more effectively.

According to T21, in March, ANERPV recorded 300 thefts of GPS-monitored vehicles — an 11% increase from the monthly average of 269 incidents in 2024. Over half of these thefts occurred in just three states: the State of Mexico (72), Puebla (40), and Guanajuato (36).

Heavy trucks remain the primary target, accounting for 146 of the 300 stolen vehicles. The rest included private vehicles and light trucks. In states like San Luis Potosi, 95% of reported thefts involved heavy vehicles, underscoring the targeted nature of these crimes.

Fridays saw the highest number of thefts (68 incidents), followed by Tuesdays and Thursdays. The night shift (7PM to midnight) was the riskiest time, accounting for nearly a third of all cases. While in states like San Luis Potosi, nighttime robberies dominate, thefts in Guanajuato and Puebla occur throughout the day, often during peak traffic hours.

In Jalisco, where 26 thefts were reported, a majority involved private vehicles. However, in industrial zones and along heavily trafficked corridors — such as Ecatepec, Tultitlan, and Cuautitlan Izcalli in the State of Mexico, or San Martín Texmelucan in Puebla — heavy trucks were most frequently targeted. Both stationary and moving vehicles were affected.

On the other hand, Laura Perez, CEO, Seguridad Privada Guepardos (SPG), says to MBN that the regions with the highest security risks in Mexico, based on SPG’s experience, include Puebla (especially Tlacotalpan and the Circuito Exterior Mexiquense), Arco Norte, Reynosa, Acapulco, and Celaya. These areas have seen a rise in criminal activity, particularly in cargo theft and violent incidents.

The Strategic Role of Supply Chain Intelligence

Luis Villatoro, President, National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV), and Director Supply Chain Security and Intelligence Latin America, Overhaul, highlights the need for strategic supply chain intelligence to counter cargo theft, especially in the State of Mexico, a hotspot for food and beverage theft. This sector represents nearly one-third of the national production economy and is among the most frequently targeted by criminal groups.

According to Villatoro, about 60% of cargo thefts occur in Mexico’s central region, with the western and Bajio regions accounting for much of the rest. These regions are densely populated, heavily industrialized, and feature key transportation routes that facilitate the distribution of goods — making them high-risk zones.

Villatoro says that the challenge is not just about security enforcement, but also involves cultural and systemic changes. He also advocates for comprehensive risk mapping, real-time monitoring, data analysis to identify high-risk windows, satellite tracking, surveillance technology, and preventative planning as essential tools for protecting logistics operations.