Daily intentional homicides in Mexico fell by approximately 40% between September 2024 and April 2026 [1].
This decline suggests a potential shift in the effectiveness of national security strategies in a country long struggled by systemic cartel violence. The reported drop represents an average of 34 fewer homicides per day [2].
President Claudia Sheinbaum said, "Se redujeron en 40 por ciento los homicidios dolosos en el país" [3]. The figures were presented on May 12, 2026, by the Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública (SESNSP) [1].
Government officials attributed the trend to security policies focusing on the disruption of criminal infrastructure. According to security authorities, the administration seized 28,000 weapons and 391 tonnes of drugs during this period [4]. Additionally, authorities dismantled 2,337 clandestine laboratories [4].
While the SESNSP reports a 40% decrease [1], other data suggests a different scale of improvement. The outlet Ángulo7 reported a national reduction of 22.2% [5]. This discrepancy highlights ongoing challenges in how homicide data is aggregated and reported across different regions.
Earlier trends showed more volatility. A report from WTOP indicated that intentional homicides actually increased by 1.4% between January and November 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023 [6]. The current government data, however, focuses on the 19-month window starting in September 2024 [1].
SESNSP spokespeople said the average daily homicide rate dropped significantly across the 19-month span [1]. The administration continues to link these results to high-impact interdictions and the removal of weaponry from the streets [4].
“Daily intentional homicides in Mexico fell by approximately 40% between September 2024 and April 2026.”
The discrepancy between the 40% reduction reported by the government and the 22.2% figure from other sources indicates a lack of consensus on the exact pace of violence reduction. While the seizure of thousands of weapons and labs suggests a proactive disruption of cartel logistics, the contrast with 2024's slight increase shows that security gains in Mexico often fluctuate based on the specific timeframe measured.
