Security Assessment / Meeting With US Ambassador

Security Assessment. Minister of Security Omar García Harfuch outlined key security actions undertaken from May 7 to May 19, 2025. He reported that on May 17, in Magdalena, Jalisco, authorities detained Alfredo “N”, identified as a priority target linked to CJNG, along with Isidro Guadalupe “N”. On the same day, in Huitzontla, Michoacan, nine members of a criminal cell, including Mexican and foreign citizens associated with the CJNG, were arrested. This group is reportedly linked to crimes such as homicide, extortion, and illegal deprivation of liberty.

Additionally, Harfuch presented results from the National Security Strategy covering the period from Oct.1, 2024, to May 18, 2025. During this time, 21,411 people were detained for high-impact crimes. Authorities seized 157t of drugs, which included nearly 1.5t of fentanyl and 2.4 million fentanyl pills. Furthermore, 915 clandestine laboratories used for methamphetamine production were dismantled, and 10,962 firearms were confiscated.

Strategy Against Cargo Theft. Hernán Cortés, Lieutenant, National Guard (GN), presented the results of the Balam strategy, which is designed to reduce the theft of cargo transport.

Under this strategy, authorities identified 12 states and 22 specific road sections that account for 80% of cargo vehicle thefts. These sections are the Vista Hermosa-Ecuandureo Junction, Capula-Patzcuaro, and Las Canas-Infiernillo in Michoacan. Operations in San Luis Potosi focus on sections like the Cerritos-Santa Maria del Rio Junction and El Huizache-Villa Hidalgo. Jalisco's identified tracks are Zapotlanejo-Jalostotitlan, La Venta del Astillero-Tequila, and Lagos de Moreno-Ojuelos, while for Morelos, the relevant sections are Tres Marias-Coajomulco and Pueblo Viejo-Huixastla.

In Nuevo Leon, the Santa Ana-Los Medina section is targeted. The state of Guanajuato sees activity on the Juventino Rosas-Apaseo El Grande Junction, the Lagos de Moreno-Leon Junction, and the Dolores Hidalgo-San Luis de la Paz Junction. Queretaro's primary focus is the Queretaro-San Juan del Rio section. In the State of Mexico, the Atlacomulco-San Agustin section is included. The Pachuca-Tula road in Hidalgo is also monitored. Tlaxcala's identified high-risk section is Arco Norte. In Puebla, the strategy covers the Puebla-Veracruz and Esperanza-Los Magueyes sections. In Veracruz, the government monitors the Los Magueyes-Maltrata and Maltrata-Ciudad Mendoza roads.

The components of the Balam strategy include highway units, field companies, aerial assets, and intelligence cells. To execute this strategy, 1,241 personnel, 532 vehicles, 37 drones, and 4 helicopters have been deployed. So far, these efforts have led to a 28% reduction in vehicle theft and a 24% increase in the recovery of stolen cargo vehicles.

Meeting With US Ambassador. President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that on May 19, 2025, she delivered credentials to several ambassadors, including Ron Johnson of the United States.

Describing her meeting with the US Ambassador, Sheinbaum characterized it as a cordial encounter where she highlighted the importance of the relationship between Mexico and the United States. She indicated that they discussed principal themes of the binational agenda, among which were security and migration, and the need for permanent communication.