Humanitarian Ships are Missing / Missing People

Ships Bound for Cuba With Humanitarian Aid Remain Missing. Claudia Sheinbam revealed that contact has been lost with two small vessels that had departed for Cuba carrying humanitarian supplies. The Navy has since launched search protocols to locate them.

"There are two vessels that we are still looking for. After several hours, communication was cut off, and from that point on, a search operation was set in motion. The search for these two small boats is ongoing."

Missing People. Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez outlined advances in implementing Mexico's National Search Alert. She detailed that upon receiving a disappearance report, prosecutors are now required to open an investigation file immediately. She added that 512 public, social, and private institutions are involved in distributing alerts across schools, restaurants, hotels, airports, and bus terminals.

"It is mandatory that disappearance reports trigger the opening of an investigation file at the Prosecutor's Office, that is required. Investigating and preventing impunity is non-negotiable. Furthermore, specialized disappearance units must add cybercrime investigation divisions, victim follow-up teams, and units dedicated to both recent and long-standing cases."

Marcela Figueroa, Executive Secretary of the National Public Security System, added that since 2006, 130,000 disappearances have been registered. Of those, 31% have enough data to support active searches, as activity was recorded after the reported disappearance date, while 36% lack sufficient information for a search altogether. On average, 66 out of every 100 monthly disappearance reports result in the person being found, and in 96 out of 100 cases the absence was unrelated to criminal activity. Among those still listed as unlocated, 78% are men between the ages of 30 and 59, and 22% are women between 18 and 29.

President Sheinbaum added that since the beginning of her administration, 285 individuals have been arrested in connection with disappearance-related offences. "We are working on this every day and tracking it weekly to help find these individuals and eradicate this crime, because the last thing we want is for any young person to be pulled in by organized crime, whether voluntarily or by force."

International Tourists. Sheinbaum assured foreign visitors that Mexico is a safe destination. She highlighted an 8.6% growth in the number of international tourists staying one or more nights in the country.

"Visitors can come to this country safely. Many cruise passengers arrive, spend the day, and leave, they count as visitors but not necessarily as tourists. Tourists who stay one night or more in Mexico grew by 8.6%. International flights continue to increase, and economic spillover keeps growing. For the World Cup specifically, we have a range of special tourist protection measures in place nationwide."

Mexico vs. Portugal Match. Ahead of the upcoming soccer match between Mexico and Portugal, Sheinbaum urged ticket holders to follow guidance from city authorities regarding shuttle buses that will be deployed. She explained that the venue lacks sufficient parking, and that a public transportation scheme  will be in place.

"This Saturday for the Mexico vs. Portugal match, the problem is that there simply is not enough parking. The city is putting measures in place and we're supporting as much as we can so that not everyone drives to the stadium. People with tickets can leave their cars at designated spots where buses will take them to the venue and bring them back afterward."