Mexico’s Tech Towers Cut Cargo Theft by 54% on Key Highways

The National Guard’s "Zero Cargo Transportation Thefts" strategy, active since July 9, 2025, has reduced theft in key logistics routes by up to 54%, say authorities. Through this strategy, the National Guard has deployed Vehicle Inspection Towers to monitor and respond to traffic on high-crime highway corridors. 

“This tower system works by detecting vehicles traveling on the highway at speeds between 40km/h and 150km/h. They are placed at strategic points where we have a reaction group that, immediately when the report is sent to the designated cell phone, pursues that vehicle to stop it and verify its status,” says Major Balam Cerrito, Head of the Communications Routes Station, National Guard of Cuautitlan Izcalli.

Cargo transportation theft is a persistent challenge to Mexico's security and economy, directly affecting supply chains and increasing operational and insurance costs for companies. In August 2025, cargo theft in Mexico increased by 6.1%, 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. Michoacan recorded 32 thefts, up 3.22%, and Oaxaca saw the steepest jump with 14 cases, a 133.3% increase.

In response to this problem, the "Zero Cargo Transportation Thefts" aims to shift from a reactive security model to a proactive and deterrent-based approach, using technology as a force multiplier to secure the country’s most critical logistics corridors. The initial deployment targets routes such as Mexico-Queretaro, Mexico-Puebla, and Mazatlan-Culiacan due to their historically high crime rates and strategic value for national commerce.

The core component of this strategy is the Vehicle Inspection Tower, a system designed internally by the National Guard. These structures integrate a radio frequency antenna capable of covering three lanes simultaneously. The system can process up to 60 license plates per minute from vehicles moving at speeds up to 150km/h from a distance of 20m.

The towers are linked to the Public Vehicle Registry (REPUVE) database, which allows for the automatic identification of license plates with theft reports. The system incorporates a detector for signal jammers, which criminal organizations often use to block a truck's GPS signal during theft, making their early detection a critical tactical advantage.

The initiative is staffed by 585 personnel equipped with 195 vehicles, according to Hamlet Toledo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mexican Army General Staff. Other technological assets include 10 vehicle identification towers supported by an aerial fleet of three helicopters, three unmanned aerial vehicles, and 22 drones. Dedicated intelligence cells and coordinated communication platforms further enhance the operation's capabilities.

Authorities report that 306 individuals have been detained and 1,502 vehicles have been recovered since the strategy was launched. The initiative has also led to a reduction in theft across key corridors, with a 54% decrease on the Mexico-Puebla route, a 50% decrease on the Mexico-Queretaro route, and a 27% decrease on the Mazatlan-Culiacan route, say authorities.