Mexico's Security and Citizen Protection Secretary Omar García Harfuch said 59,000 arrests occurred nationwide during a security cabinet conference on Tuesday [3].
These figures represent the government's attempt to demonstrate the effectiveness of its National Security Strategy against organized crime. By publicizing these metrics, the administration aims to signal a shift in control over volatile regions and a commitment to reducing violent crime.
During the morning briefing, García Harfuch said 31,000 firearms were seized [1] and nearly 500 tons of narcotics were recovered [2]. Operations were concentrated in several key areas, including Tijuana, Durango, Mexico City, the State of Mexico, and Michoacán [1].
In San Luis Potosí, the government has doubled its presence, increasing federal personnel from 400 to nearly 800 [6]. The secretary also highlighted specific progress in Michoacán, where the state has seen 430 arrests for high-impact crimes [5]. According to government data, homicide rates in Michoacán dropped by 15% in 2026 compared to 2025 [4].
Beyond the arrests, García Harfuch presented updates on a specialized plan to combat extortion. The strategy focuses on dismantling the financial networks used by criminal groups to squeeze local businesses and residents. While the numbers show a trend toward stabilization in some zones, the security chief said the current progress is not a final victory.
"No es una tarea terminada," García Harfuch said [0].
The government continues to deploy the National Security Strategy to address the systemic nature of cartel influence. The focus remains on combining high-volume arrests with targeted regional interventions to prevent the resurgence of violence in previously stabilized municipalities.
“"No es una tarea terminada"”
The scale of these seizures and arrests suggests a high-intensity operational phase by the Mexican government to disrupt cartel logistics. However, the focus on 'high-impact' arrests and the admission that the task is not finished indicates that while the state is reclaiming territory, the structural roots of extortion and organized crime remain a persistent threat to national stability.
