By Fausto Carbajal Glass, Partner, Miranda Delphi Solutions
Mexico’s security landscape reveals intensified anti-crime operations under President Sheinbaum’s administration. Security Secretary García Harfuch claimed “heroic blows” against organized crime, reporting 11,000 firearms seized and over 915 drug laboratories destroyed in six months. Diplomatic tensions persist as Foreign Minister de la Fuente discussed US remittance tax concerns with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing bilateral cooperation priorities. Intelligence reports show 61% of discovered narco-tunnels between 2015-2025 were located in Baja California, though detection patterns shift as synthetic drugs require smaller volumes than traditional marijuana trafficking. The Supreme Court validated naval control over ports, ruling this doesn’t constitute maritime militarization. Major enforcement actions included capturing seventeen suspects, including twelve Colombians, connected to a landmine explosion that killed eight soldiers in Michoacán, and seizing over 3 million liters of stolen fuel in Tabasco, highlighting organized crime’s lucrative petroleum theft operations.
“Under Sheinbaum, there are heroic actions in the fight against organized crime”: García Harfuch.
Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch defended the government’s anti-crime efforts, claiming “heroic blows” against organized crime unseen since 2018. He highlighted the recent elimination of crime boss Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez (“El Perris”) during a Sinaloa operation that wounded two military personnel. García Harfuch reported significant achievements: 11,000 firearms seized and over 915 drug laboratories destroyed in six months. He assured that the murders of Mexico City’s government collaborators Ximena Guzmán and José Muñoz would not go unpunished. Congressional leaders engaged in dialogue with García Harfuch about security initiatives. Opposition parties expressed concerns about proposed telecommunications surveillance laws, fearing violations of constitutional privacy rights. They emphasized the need for judicial oversight in accessing citizens’ communications, referencing past illegal wiretapping scandals involving prominent political figures.
La Crónica, 5/26/25, Eloisa Domínguez: “Con Sheinbaum hay acciones heroicas en combate al crimen organizado”: García Harfuch.
De la Fuente discusses with Marco Rubio the impact of remittance taxes on Mexicans.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente held a telephone conversation on Friday, May 30th, emphasizing the need to intensify bilateral cooperation to enhance citizen security. According to the State Department, Rubio sought to “drive greater progress” on shared security priorities, including efforts to secure the US-Mexico border, dismantle cartel organizations, and promote North American economic security. Mexico’s Foreign Ministry highlighted the critical importance of remittances for Mexican families and voiced strong opposition to the proposed 3.5% tax on money transfers. The officials also discussed an upcoming visit by Mexican legislators to Washington D.C. next week for dialogue with their American counterparts on this contentious issue.
Rubio acknowledged advances in migration and security matters, particularly praising collaborative efforts in combating arms trafficking. Both sides agreed to continue dialogue through their respective teams. This conversation occurs amid heightened bilateral tensions over Republican administration tariffs and the remittance tax proposal, which has already passed the House of Representatives and will begin Senate consideration next week.
El Financiero, 5/30/25, Redacción: De la Fuente habla con Marco Rubio sobre el impacto del impuesto a las remesas en los mexicanos.
61% of drug tunnels located in Baja California.
Mexico’s Defense Ministry revealed that 61.5% of narco-tunnels discovered between 2015-2025 were located in Baja California. Twenty-six tunnels were found during this period, with 16 concentrated in Baja California –10 in Tijuana, 5 in Mexicali, 1 in Tecate. Sonora ranked second with seven tunnels. Significantly, more tunnels were discovered in the first quarter of 2025 than in 2023-2024 combined. However, experts attribute declining detections in recent years to shifting drug trafficking patterns. Local authorities noted that synthetic drugs require smaller volumes than marijuana, making tunnels less necessary since cannabis legalization in the United States. Baja California’s security chief confirmed that while no tunnels were detected in 2025, intelligence suggests they still exist. Mexican authorities coordinate with U.S. counterparts using advanced detection technology to locate these sophisticated smuggling networks.
La Voz de la Frontera, 5/26/25, Christian Galarza: Localizados en Baja California, 61% de narcotúneles.
Supreme Court validates port transfer to Navy: “no militarization of maritime sphere exists”.
Mexico’s Supreme Court validated the transfer of port control, merchant marine, and maritime security to the Navy Ministry, ruling 8-2 that this does not constitute “militarization of the maritime sphere”. The decision upheld reforms to federal administration laws enacted in December 2020 under former President López Obrador, which opposition senators had challenged. Juan Luis González Alcántara emphasized that transferring these functions represents administrative redistribution within federal maritime governance rather than civil-to-military power transfer. The Court distinguished between the Navy Ministry’s administrative role and the Mexican Navy’s military functions, clarifying they are the same institution with different responsibilities. Opposition senators argued the reform violated Constitutional Article 129, which limits military authority during peacetime. However, Loretta Ortiz countered that this provision applies only to Armed Forces operations, not the Navy Ministry’s administrative functions. The Court mandated that maritime authorities maintain equivalent human rights protections as previous civilian oversight.
La Jornada, 5/26/25, Iván Evair Saldaña: SCJN valida transferencia de puertos a Marina: “no existe militarización del ámbito marítimo”.
Army detains Colombians for mine explosion that killed 8 soldiers.
The Mexican Army captured 17 suspected hitmen, including twelve Colombians, connected to manufacturing and detonating a landmine that killed eight soldiers in Michoacán. The XXI Military Zone confirmed the arrests occurred during a special operation in Los Reyes municipality, bordering Jalisco state. Soldiers from the 17th Infantry Battalion discovered the suspects in a safe house containing materials for manufacturing improvised explosive devices and drone-deployable bombs, along with three firearms and ammunition. The detainees allegedly belong to a cell serving the Los Reyes Cartel, which emerged a decade ago as a splinter from self-defense groups that originally fought the Knights Templar cartel. The explosion occurred in El Santuario village, completely destroying a SandCat armored tactical vehicle during an anti-narcotics operation. Federal prosecutors are investigating the Colombians’ immigration status and potential military backgrounds. The Los Reyes Cartelmaintains brutal territorial disputes with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
El Informador, 5/30/25, EFE: El Ejército detiene a colombianos por explosión de mina que mató a 8 militares.
Following raid, over 3 million liters of stolen fuel found in Tabasco.
Mexican federal forces seized more than 3 million liters of illegal hydrocarbons, known as “huachicol”, from a property in Centro municipality, Tabasco. The coordinated operation involved multiple agencies including the Defense Ministry, Navy, National Security Secretariat, Attorney General’s Office, National Guard, and PEMEX security personnel. Following investigative leads, security agents identified a property on the Coastal Gulf Highway used for illicit fuel storage that endangered public safety. After implementing surveillance and gathering sufficient evidence, authorities obtained a search warrant from a Control Judge. The operation resulted in seizing 18 vehicles, three machinery units, and 3,904 metal containers holding 3,123,200 liters of petroleum derivatives. Fuel theft represents organized crime’s second-largest revenue source in Mexico, with PEMEX reporting losses exceeding 20 billion pesos in 2024 from clandestine pipeline taps. Including fiscal huachicol –illegal fuel importation without tax reporting– total damages reached 177 billion pesos. This lucrative business fuels territorial disputes, exemplified by violence in Guanajuato between Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels, and Tabasco’s escalating conflict between La Barredora and CJNG over fuel theft control.
Animal Político, 5/29/25, Redacción: Tras cateo, hallan más de 3 millones de litros de huachicol en Tabasco.
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