High-impact crimes drop 53% since 2018, Mexican government reports military's role

Mexico's government asserts that the sustained involvement of the Permanent Armed Forces in public security tasks has led to a substantial 53% reduction in the daily average of high-impact crimes since 2018. The number of daily crimes has fallen from 969.4 in 2018 to 455.8 currently, according to the Seventh Semiannual Report of the Permanent Armed Forces in Support of Public Security.

The report, submitted to the Permanent Commission, details how the coordinated efforts of the Army, Mexican Air Force, and Navy, alongside civilian authorities across all government levels, have strengthened the fight against criminality. This intervention has also bolstered the protection of strategic installations and reinforced the state's presence in regions with the highest crime rates.

Key indicators presented in the report show a 40% decrease in the daily average of intentional homicides between September 2024 and April 2026, dropping from nearly 83 to 49 victims per day. Further reductions were noted in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, including a 7.8% decrease in femicides, a 7.7% drop in extortion, and a 28.8% reduction in extortion-related kidnappings.

Other significant declines include an 8.4% decrease in intentional firearm-related injuries, a 16.9% reduction in violent robberies, and a 26.5% decrease in cargo theft. Vehicle theft specifically saw a 56.5% reduction compared to 2018 levels. The report also details extensive deployments, with the Secretariat of National Defense deploying 45,247 personnel to high-homicide areas and reinforcing specific operations, such as sending 2,000 additional troops to Jalisco following the capture and death of CJNG leader "El Mencho."