Marcela Figueroa Franco announced a significant reduction in violence and high-impact crimes within the State of Mexico this week [1].
The decline in violence marks a shift in the security landscape for one of Mexico's most populous regions. These figures suggest that targeted regional strategies are effectively lowering the rate of violent crime.
Figueroa, the head of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, said that intentional homicides have decreased by 56% [1]. According to the official, this represents the lowest level of intentional homicides seen in 19 years [1].
Other high-impact crimes have also seen a decline. Figueroa said that these crimes have dropped by 40% [1]. Furthermore, vehicle thefts have decreased by 59% [1]. The official also said there was a reduction in violent robberies of businesses, though a specific percentage for that category was not provided [1].
Figueroa attributed these results to the implementation of the state's security strategy and the Integral Plan Zona Oriente [2, 3]. These initiatives focused on coordinated interventions to destabilize criminal activity and improve response times in high-risk areas.
Looking forward, the official presented projected data for 2026. The figures suggest a continued downward trend, with high-impact crimes projected to be 19% lower [1].
This data comes amid a broader national effort to curb violence through a combination of intelligence-led policing and social programs. Figueroa said the current results validate the tactical approach used in the State of Mexico [2, 3].
“Intentional homicides have decreased by 56%”
The reported decline in violent crime in the State of Mexico suggests that the 'Integral Plan Zona Oriente' is achieving its tactical goals. If the projected 19% further reduction in high-impact crimes for 2026 holds, it could serve as a blueprint for other Mexican states struggling with organized crime and urban violence.
