Eight months into President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, Mexico is demonstrating signs of progress in its battle against drug cartels, largely due to heightened cooperation with the United States leading to tangible results.
Both nations have significantly enhanced their border security measures. Mexico has deployed 10,000 National Guard members, while the U.S. maintains over 10,000 personnel along the shared border. Additionally, the U.S. recently approved an extra 1,000 troops to further strengthen these efforts.
Intelligence cooperation has escalated to unprecedented levels, featuring Mexican military operations in conjunction with U.S. agents for surveillance activities. Reports indicate the involvement of CIA drone flights over Mexico targeting cartel operations and fentanyl labs, as well as spy plane missions in the U.S. Southwest and around the Baja Peninsula.
Drug seizures have reached record numbers at the border and within Mexico. Notably, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a historic seizure of approximately 4 million fentanyl pills, weighing over 453 kilograms at the Lukeville, Arizona border crossing. Mexican authorities executed their largest-ever fentanyl bust, seizing over 1,000 kilograms in Sinaloa, with an economic impact estimated at $400 million.
The crackdown on cartel leadership has intensified, with significant arrests like that of senior MS-13 leader Francisco Román and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, a prime figure in the Sinaloa Cartel. Mexico has extradited 29 cartel figures to the United States, including Rafael Caro Quintero, and 17 family members of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán who surrendered to the FBI at the border.
On the security front, an 11% decrease in nationwide homicides compared to last year has been reported by the Sheinbaum administration. However, high-profile violent incidents continue, such as the recent murder of two close aides to Mexico City’s mayor during morning rush hour.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently acknowledged Mexico’s efforts, stating they have “increased their security cooperation with us in ways that have been very productive,” and plans to visit Mexico soon with other cabinet members to reinforce these collaborative initiatives.
Despite these positive developments, security challenges persist across Mexico, with cartel influence continuing to affect regions like Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Baja California Sur, impacting tourism and everyday life.
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