Homicides in Mexico fall 42% in the first 16 months of Sheinbaum's government
The President of Mexico highlighted that the daily average of victims went from 86.9 in September 2024 to 50.9 in January 2026
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, reported that intentional homicides in the country have decreased by 42% between September 2024 and January 2026 "That means 36 fewer homicides per day. That's 36 fewer people losing their lives every day,” Sheinbaum emphasized, attributing the reduction to the National Security Strategy and the coordinated work between the Ministry of Security, the Armed Forces, and the National Guard.
Marcela Figueroa, head of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), explained that January 2026 is projected to be the month with the lowest homicide rate in the last decade, comparing records since 2016. She also noted 26 of the 32 federal entities report decreases in this crime. However, seven states account for 50.6% of the murders registered so far this year: Guanajuato, Baja California, Chihuahua, State of Mexico, Sinaloa, Morelos, and Guerrero.
Blows to organized crime and the case of the miners in Sinaloa
For his part, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar Garcia Harfuch, reported that in the first 16 months of the current administration, 43,439 people have been arrested for high-impact crimes. Additionally, 22,832 firearms have been seized, along with more than 327 tons of drugs—including over 4 million fentanyl pills—and 2,028 clandestine methamphetamine labs have been dismantled. Among the significant arrests, he mentioned that of Cesar Alejandro “N,” alias “El Botox,” identified as the leader of a criminal cell linked to the murder of a lemon growers' leader in Michoacan. He also highlighted the dismantling of “Los Salazar.” A group dedicated to recruiting people for the Beltran Leyva cartel in several states.Regarding other high-impact crimes, the government reported reductions between January 2025 and January 2026 in femicide (-12.7%), kidnapping (-50%), robbery with violence (-24.6%), and extortion (-30.3%). The only exception was residential burglary, which saw a 2.6% increase. During the same press conference, Garcia Harfuch addressed the case of the 10 miners kidnapped in Sinaloa, five of whom were found dead in a clandestine grave. According to initial statements from four detainees, allegedly members of the “Los Chapitos” faction, the victims were mistaken for members of a rival group known as “Los Mayos.” The Attorney General's Office confirmed the identification of five bodies, while five others remain under forensic examination. Authorities stated that investigations are ongoing to clarify the facts. Sheinbaum assumed the presidency on October 1, 2024, after a six-year term that saw more than 196,000 murders, according to official data. Just over a year into her administration, the president maintains that current figures show a sustained downward trend, although she acknowledges that hotspots persist in several regions of the country. “The commitment is to continue working every day for the peace and security of Mexican families,” she stated. “The commitment is to continue working every day for the peace and security of Mexican families,” she stated. “The commitment is to continue working every day for the peace and security of Mexican families,” she stated.

