Mexico City Sees 65% Drop in High-Impact Crime Ahead of World Cup 2026
Mexico City, June 16 – The incidence of high-impact crimes in Mexico City decreased by 65% between January and May 2026, compared to the same period in 2019. This was announced by the Head of Government, Clara Brugada Molina, during the presentation of the Monthly Security Report for May. The city is now better prepared to host the World Cup 2026 in a context of enhanced security.
Seven Years of Continuous Crime Reduction
Accompanied by members of the Security Cabinet, Brugada Molina stated that the capital has experienced seven consecutive years of declining crime rates and a strengthening of institutional capacities within public security corporations. “We arrived at the World Cup with a safer city, better prepared, and with a stronger, more professional, and citizen-friendly police force,” she emphasized.
The presented figures indicate an 8% reduction in high-impact crimes compared to the same period in 2025. In 2019, an average of 148 such crimes were committed daily, whereas currently, the number stands at fewer than 50 cases per day.
Comprehensive Security Strategy Yields Results
Brugada attributed these results to a comprehensive strategy based on eight key pillars:
- Addressing root causes
- Strengthening police forces
- Intelligence and technology integration
- Institutional coordination
- Continuous territorial evaluation
- Proximity policing
- Building peace territories
- Security with a gender perspective
Notable actions highlighted include the Aldea Juvenil program, targeting at-risk youth, the installation of 36,000 new video surveillance cameras, bringing the total to nearly 120,000 operational units, and the establishment of 72 peace polygons across 23 priority areas.
Significant Reduction in Homicides and Arrests
Regarding intentional homicides, the Head of Government reported a 51% reduction compared to 2019 and an 8.8% decrease compared to last year. Currently, the city records just over two homicides daily, a stark contrast to the more than four cases per day seven years ago.
Pablo Vázquez Camacho, Secretary of Citizen Security, informed that since October 2024, 10,897 individuals have been arrested for high-impact crimes, and 41 criminal cells have been dismantled. He also highlighted the capture of 1,238 alleged criminals linked to violence-generating groups.
Operational Successes and Judicial Progress
Operational successes include the seizure of 3,000 firearms, over 1,700 kilograms of marijuana, 224 kilograms of cocaine, and more than 6,000 vehicles associated with illicit activities.
Bertha Alcalde Luján, Attorney General of Justice for Mexico City, reported an increase in arrests and judicializations for crimes such as extortion, homicide, vehicle theft, home robbery, and rape. In May alone, 485 conviction sentences were obtained, representing 90% of the trials concluded during that period.
The significant reduction in crime rates underscores Mexico City’s commitment to public safety, creating a more secure environment for its residents and visitors, especially with the upcoming international events like the World Cup 2026.
