Sheinbaum report details deployment of 11,863 troops along Mexico’s northern border

Mexico deployed 11,863 permanent armed forces personnel along its northern border between Sept. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s second government report said.

The forces operated in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Sinaloa. Their mission included strengthening customs, establishing border corridors and carrying out ground interception operations, air-supported patrols, mobile security posts and humanitarian rescue efforts.

During the period, authorities reported seizing 5,542 firearms, 1,050,731 rounds of ammunition, 20,396 magazines, 106,054 kilograms of drugs, 4,059 vehicles and 987 properties. They also reported arresting 9,166 people.

The government said its Operation Northern Border security strategy strengthened security along the shared border with the United States, helped reduce the illegal trafficking of weapons and drugs into Mexico, addressed migration issues and protected migrants’ right to freedom of movement.

In Sinaloa, 16,440 personnel from the Defense Ministry, Navy, Security and Citizen Protection Ministry and National Guard were deployed during the same period. Authorities said they conducted intelligence and investigative operations, territorial deployments and targeted actions against violent criminal organizations.

Those operations led to 846 arrests for high-impact crimes, the seizure of 42.2 tons of drugs, including 75.8 kilograms of fentanyl and 369,023 fentanyl pills, as well as 2,491 firearms and 643,467 rounds of ammunition. Security forces also dismantled 1,301 laboratories used to produce methamphetamine.

The federal government said its Sinaloa reinforcement strategy aims to weaken criminal groups’ operational, financial and logistical capabilities. It has three main goals: reduce crime, arrest those generating violence and strengthen security institutions through improved investigation, intelligence, prevention and state police capacity.