Violence in Guanajuato: Security Secretary reveals the causes

The state has the highest homicide rate in Mexico.

Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), explained that the violence and high crime rates in Guanajuato result from several factors. According to Rodríguez Velázquez, the state has been governed under a neoliberal economic model associated with El Yunque, with no renewal of the authorities responsible for justice and crime prosecution. Additionally, social inequality has deepened, and drug consumption has increased in the industrial corridor.

During the presentation of the biweekly security report, the Secretary also noted that the rise in violence is due to the arrival of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which triggered violent clashes with the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, which previously controlled fuel theft known as huachicol.

Why Does Guanajuato Experience Severe Violence?

This information is based on a socioeconomic analysis of Guanajuato prepared by the Violence and Crime Prevention Unit and the Peace and Security Building Tables of the SSPC. In response to this situation, a particular peace-building strategy has been implemented in the state under presidential instruction.

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Guanajuato has been governed for 33 years under the same neoliberal economic model established by the right, with authorities responsible for justice and crime prosecution remaining in their positions for over a decade. This has resulted in inequality, increased crime, and drug consumption. From 1991 to 2024, seven right-wing local governments have strengthened their alliances with traditional conservative leadership and the extreme right represented by El Yunque,” Rodríguez Velázquez explained.

Despite Guanajuato being a wealthy state with the fifth-largest economy in the country, the highest remittance reception, and the seventh-highest foreign direct investment, a significant road network, and Pemex pipeline infrastructure, eight of its 46 municipalities in the industrial corridor concentrate almost 60% of the poor population.

“León is the municipality with the poorest people in the country and the second with the highest number of people in extreme poverty,” she emphasized.

The Secretary pointed out that from 2000 to 2018, fuel theft surged due to the lack of intervention by state and municipal authorities. The Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel initially controlled this illegal activity until the arrival of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which triggered violence among local criminal groups.

According to Pemex reports, Guanajuato ranked first in illegal fuel taps from 2000 to 2018 and also leads in homicide rates, with a 994% increase from 2009 to 2020, reaching its peak.

“Although there was a marginal reduction in 2021, it was only from 2022, with the implementation of the peace-building strategy in Guanajuato and the reinforcement of the presence of the Armed Forces and the National Guard, that we saw a significant decrease in violence,” she detailed.

Regarding drug dealing, she highlighted that in 2016, Guanajuato was ranked eighth in investigative files, moved to second place in 2018, and has been in first place since 2020, despite efforts to counteract this issue. She also noted that homicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 12 to 29 in the state.

Rodríguez Velázquez emphasized that efforts are being intensified to restore peace in Guanajuato. These include preventing gender-based violence and addiction in schools, facilitating access to welfare programs, implementing federal social programs in health and education, and improving urban infrastructure.

The National Guard will maintain its presence, especially in high-crime municipalities. Intelligence work will focus on capturing key targets. Inspections will ensure the legal operations of black market businesses. Actions will be taken to prevent drug use and enhance public space recovery.