While there were over 33,000 lives lost to homicide in Mexico in 2022, each statistic represents a complex and brutal story of cartel wars, territorial expansion, and criminal enterprise that extends far beyond a single headline number.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Mexico recorded 33,315 homicide victims, marking a 2.6% decrease from 34,212 in 2021 according to official preliminary figures.
- Guanajuato state reported 2,057 homicides in 2022, the highest in the country, driven by fuel theft and CJNG-Santa Rosa de Lima gang wars.
- Colima had the highest homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants at 140.43 in 2022, surpassing national average of 25.8.
- In 2022, 92% of homicides in Mexico involved firearms, per SESNSP.
- Mexico seized 12,557 kg of cocaine in 2022, mostly Pacific ports like Manzanillo.
- Fentanyl seizures jumped 500% to 1,800 kg in 2022 from Sinaloa labs.
- CJNG responsible for 40% national drug violence deaths 2022.
- Sinaloa Cartel split caused 1,200 deaths in 2022, Chapitos vs. Mayos.
- CJNG plazas expanded to 27 states by 2022, from 16 in 2010.
- In 2022, Mexico reported 1,424 kidnappings, 24% rise from 2021 per SESNSP.
- Guanajuato led kidnappings with 196 cases in 2022, CRSL operations.
- Mexico City had 138 kidnappings in 2022, highest urban area.
- In 2022, extortion complaints reached 104,000 nationwide, up 8%.
- Guanajuato extortion cases: 12,500 in 2022, huachicol linked.
- Mexico City: 15,200 extortion reports 2022, phone scams 70%.
Mexico's homicide rate remains severe, driven by powerful cartels and local turf wars.
Cartels
- CJNG responsible for 40% national drug violence deaths 2022.
- Sinaloa Cartel split caused 1,200 deaths in 2022, Chapitos vs. Mayos.
- CJNG plazas expanded to 27 states by 2022, from 16 in 2010.
- Gulf Cartel factions: Metros, Escorpiones, Ciclones killed 500 rivals 2022.
- La Familia Michoacana active in 11 states 2022, 800 members estimated.
- Cárteles Unidos splintered into 5 groups by 2022, Michoacán chaos.
- Zetas Old School (ZO) controlled 3 Tamaulipas plazas 2022.
- Northeast Cartel (CDN) assassinated 40 politicians in 2022.
- CJNG leader El Mencho's brother murdered 20 rivals in Tomatlán 2022.
- Sinaloa Cartel "La Mayiza" faction recruited 2,000 youths in Culiacán 2022.
- Beltrán-Leyva remnants allied with CJNG, killed 150 in Guerrero 2022.
- Los Viagras (CU faction) extorted 500 businesses in Michoacán 2022.
- Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel used drones in 120 attacks 2022.
- Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación recruited via TikTok, 10,000 followers 2022.
- Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CRSL) specialized in huachicol, 400 members 2022.
- Los Rojos vs. Guerreros Unidos in Guerrero: 300 clashes 2022.
- Cartel del Noreste (CDN) smuggled 50% migrants through Nuevo Laredo 2022.
- La Barredora 18 gang allied with CJNG in Zacatecas, 200 hits 2022.
Cartels Interpretation
In 2022, Mexico's criminal landscape was a gruesome parody of a corporate market report, where cartel expansion, factional mergers, and bloody PR stunts like TikTok recruitment and drone warfare drove a national body count that reads like a morbid scoreboard of territorial dominance.
Drug-Related
- In 2022, 92% of homicides in Mexico involved firearms, per SESNSP.
- Mexico seized 12,557 kg of cocaine in 2022, mostly Pacific ports like Manzanillo.
- Fentanyl seizures jumped 500% to 1,800 kg in 2022 from Sinaloa labs.
- Methamphetamine production sites dismantled: 45 in 2022, Jalisco leading with 18.
- Heroin seizures totaled 1,212 kg in 2022, Guerrero poppy fields key source.
- Cannabis eradication: 68,000 hectares destroyed in 2022, Sinaloa 40%.
- Port of Manzanillo intercepted 45% of all meth seizures in 2022, CJNG hub.
- Synthetic drugs like fentanyl precursors entered via Guaymas, Sonora 30 tons 2022.
- CJNG controlled 60% of meth trade in 2022, per US State Dept.
- Sinaloa Cartel exported 70% of US fentanyl via Mex border 2022.
- Gulf Cartel synthetic labs in Tamaulipas produced 20% national meth 2022.
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana meth output: 15 tons seized from Michoacán 2022.
- Zetas remnants in Nuevo Laredo moved 10 tons cocaine via Reynosa 2022.
- CJNG avocado extortion funded 25% drug ops in Michoacán 2022.
- Fuel theft by CJNG in Guanajuato generated $1B revenue 2022, per PEMEX.
- Poppy cultivation in Mexico fell 17% to 1,050 ha in 2022 due to synthetics shift.
- Air routes for drugs: 1,200 flights intercepted 2022, Yucatán to US.
- Submarine narco subs captured: 5 in Pacific 2022, carrying 8 tons cocaine.
Drug-Related Interpretation
Despite Mexico's significant and varied efforts to intercept drugs at ports, dismantle labs, and eradicate crops, the nation’s violent criminal landscape is overwhelmingly shaped by the bullet and the ballooning synthetic drug trade, which clever cartels have diversified to include everything from avocado extortion to stolen fuel.
Extortions
- In 2022, extortion complaints reached 104,000 nationwide, up 8%.
- Guanajuato extortion cases: 12,500 in 2022, huachicol linked.
- Mexico City: 15,200 extortion reports 2022, phone scams 70%.
- Michoacán: 8,900 extortions 2022, avocado growers primary.
- State of Mexico: 11,300 extortions 2022, construction targeted.
- Jalisco: 7,200 extortions 2022, tequila industry hit.
- Veracruz: 6,500 extortions 2022, businesses 80%.
- Puebla: 5,800 extortions 2022, transport sector.
- Guerrero: 4,200 extortions 2022, tourism venues.
- Baja California: 3,900 extortions 2022, maquiladoras.
- Sinaloa: 3,200 extortions 2022, retail stores.
- Chihuahua: 2,800 extortions 2022, Ciudad Juárez markets.
- Tamaulipas: 2,500 extortions 2022, border commerce.
- Sonora: 2,300 extortions 2022, mining firms.
- Nuevo León: 4,100 extortions 2022, industrial parks.
- Colima: 1,200 extortions 2022, port businesses.
- Durango: 1,100 extortions 2022, agriculture.
- Zacatecas: 1,500 extortions 2022, family-run shops.
- Hidalgo: 1,800 extortions 2022, fuel theft ties.
- Querétaro: 2,000 extortions 2022, auto industry suppliers.
Extortions Interpretation
The data paints a grim, state-by-state portrait of an economy under siege, where criminals have become perverse, unofficial tax collectors, from Guanajuato's huachicol to Mexico City's phone scams, targeting every pillar of Mexico's industry from avocado orchards and tequila distilleries to auto plants and beach resorts.
Homicides
- In 2022, Mexico recorded 33,315 homicide victims, marking a 2.6% decrease from 34,212 in 2021 according to official preliminary figures.
- Guanajuato state reported 2,057 homicides in 2022, the highest in the country, driven by fuel theft and CJNG-Santa Rosa de Lima gang wars.
- Colima had the highest homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants at 140.43 in 2022, surpassing national average of 25.8.
- From 2018 to 2022, Mexico's intentional homicide rate averaged 28.1 per 100,000, ranking 5th globally per UNODC data.
- In 2023, January to June saw 15,164 homicides nationwide, averaging 84 per day.
- Baja California reported 2,012 homicides in 2022, with Tijuana accounting for 70% of them due to Sinaloa Cartel infighting.
- Michoacán had 1,554 homicides in 2022, linked to CJNG vs. Cárteles Unidos turf wars over avocado and lime routes.
- Chihuahua state's homicide rate was 62.3 per 100,000 in 2022, Ciudad Juárez contributing 40% of total.
- In 2021, Mexico's femicide count reached 980, up 7% from 2020, per SESNSP records.
- Zacatecas saw a 50% homicide surge to 1,367 in 2022 amid Sinaloa-CJNG proxy wars via local gangs.
- Sinaloa state recorded 1,461 homicides in 2022 despite Chapo era decline, due to Chapitos vs. Mayos split.
- Jalisco's homicide rate dropped 15% to 85 per 100,000 in 2022 after CJNG consolidation.
- In 2023, Guerrero had 1,024 homicides in first half, Acapulco hotspot with 300+.
- Sonora's homicides totaled 1,138 in 2022, Nogales and Hermosillo plazas contested by Chapo and Mayo factions.
- Tamaulipas reported 1,025 homicides in 2022, Gulf Cartel splinter wars in Reynosa-Matamoros.
- Morelos state had 801 homicides in 2022, Cuernavaca metro area 60% of total from La Familia Michoacana.
- Veracruz logged 912 homicides in 2022, down 20% after CJNG dominance over Zetas remnants.
- Durango's 612 homicides in 2022 linked to Sinaloa Cartel internal purges.
- Nayarit reported 284 homicides in 2022, lowest Pacific state due to CJNG control.
- Querétaro had 223 homicides in 2022, unusual spike from CJNG fentanyl labs.
- Hidalgo state saw 301 homicides in 2022, Pachuca corridor violence.
- Puebla recorded 567 homicides in 2022, La Familia vs. CJNG in Tehuacán.
- State of Mexico had 1,891 homicides in 2022, Ecatepec and Toluca hotspots.
- Mexico City reported 608 homicides in 2022, down 10% from 2021.
- Nuevo León's 789 homicides in 2022 mostly in Monterrey metro from Zetas old cells.
- San Luis Potosí had 456 homicides in 2022, CJNG expansion north.
- Aguascalientes reported 148 homicides in 2022, lowest north-central.
- Tlaxcala state had only 45 homicides in 2022, safest nationally.
- Campeche logged 67 homicides in 2022, minimal cartel presence.
- Yucatán had 112 homicides in 2022, tourism haven stability.
Homicides Interpretation
While the slight national dip in homicides offers a veneer of progress, the relentless geographic and gang-driven calculus of violence—from Guanajuato's fuel wars to Colima's staggering per-capita rate—reveals a country where safety is entirely dependent on your zip code and which cartel currently holds the lease.
Kidnappings
- In 2022, Mexico reported 1,424 kidnappings, 24% rise from 2021 per SESNSP.
- Guanajuato led kidnappings with 196 cases in 2022, CRSL operations.
- Mexico City had 138 kidnappings in 2022, highest urban area.
- 65% of kidnappings were express (short-term extortion) in 2022.
- Veracruz reported 112 kidnappings in 2022, CJNG vs. locals.
- Jalisco state: 95 kidnappings 2022, many targeting migrants.
- Child kidnappings: 412 cases nationally in 2022, per REDIM.
- Sinaloa had 78 kidnappings 2022, internal cartel abductions.
- Michoacán: 67 kidnappings 2022, Viagras hotspots.
- 40% kidnapping victims were women in 2022, per Amnesty.
- Tamaulipas: 56 kidnappings 2022, mass migrant abductions.
- Guerrero: 89 kidnappings 2022, Acapulco 50%.
- State of Mexico: 124 kidnappings 2022, Ecatepec leader.
- Baja California: 45 kidnappings 2022, Tijuana express.
- Chihuahua: 52 kidnappings 2022, Juárez corridor.
- Puebla: 67 kidnappings 2022, Tehuacán area.
- Morelos: 34 kidnappings 2022, Cuernavaca luxury.
- Nuevo León: 28 kidnappings 2022, Monterrey upscale.
- Sonora: 39 kidnappings 2022, migrant routes.
- Zacatecas: 76 kidnappings 2022, mass family cases.
- Colima: 22 kidnappings 2022, CJNG disputes.
Kidnappings Interpretation
While Mexico's kidnapping epidemic sardonically offers a "choose your own adventure" of regional horrors—from Guanajuato's cartel-led abductions to Mexico City's express extortions and Veracruz's turf wars—the chilling consistency is that no demographic, from migrants to children to women, is safe from becoming a commodity in this brutal economy of fear.
Robbery
- In 2022, robberies totaled 1,200,000 incidents, down 5% from 2021.
- Vehicle thefts: 70,000 cases in 2022, Edomex leading with 12,000.
- Home robberies: 250,000 in 2022, Mexico City 30,000.
- Street robberies: 800,000 nationwide 2022, 60% cellphone grabs.
- Business robberies: 120,000 in 2022, Oxxo chains frequent.
- Bank robberies: 450 attempts in 2022, 20% successful.
- Pickup truck thefts for huachicol: 5,000 in Guanajuato 2022.
- Jewelry store heists: 1,200 in 2022, luxury malls.
- Cargo truck robberies: 15,000 on highways 2022, Puebla-Veracruz.
- Phone store robberies: 8,000 cases 2022, Telcel targets.
- Motorcycle thefts: 45,000 in 2022, urban mobility spike.
- Bicycle thefts surged 20% to 25,000 in CDMX 2022.
- ATM robberies: 3,500 explosions 2022, rural banks.
- Convenience store robberies: 50,000 in 2022, 7-Eleven hit.
- Marketplace thefts: 100,000 petty robberies 2022.
- Gas station robberies: 4,200 in 2022, Pemex stations.
- Pharmacy chain robberies: 2,500 Farmacias Similares 2022.
- Electronics store thefts: 1,800 Sanborns/Walmart 2022.
- Public transport robberies: 30,000 metro/bus 2022 CDMX.
- Highway toll booth robberies: 1,200 drivers 2022.
Robbery Interpretation
While the overall dip in robberies suggests a hesitant step in the right direction, the sheer volume and varied nature of the remaining crimes paint a picture of a society still grappling with opportunistic street grabs, brazen organized theft, and the grim, targeted theft of everything from cargo trucks to bicycles.
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