The Effect of Cargo Hijackings on Economic Security and Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico

Abstract

Over the previous decade, there has been a substantial increase in cargo hijacking of semi-trucks throughout Mexico.  These hijackings have become a threat to Mexico’s economic security and to foreign investors looking at offshoring or nearshoring their business operations, specifically in Central Mexico. The central region of Mexico, a prime location for industries like automotive, agriculture, electronics, and building materials, is being leveraged by criminal groups who profit from reselling stolen goods in informal or illicit markets. As goods are transported from major manufacturing centers across public highways to the United States, criminal groups coerce truck drivers through violence to surrender their cargo. The confrontations have led to millions of dollars in goods being stolen as well as beaten or kidnapped truck drivers. Investors have begun to raise serious concerns over the future economic stability of their operations in Mexico. This article will analyze what states and industries are the most affected and will also explore what security options are currently being developed to counter the hijackings. In addition, the paper will also provide security recommendations to businesses and the Mexican government. If left unchecked, cargo hijackings could grossly impact future investments and the very economic security of Mexico itself.

Introduction

Bandits have existed in Mexico since horse drawn carriages were robbed at the point of a sword or six-shooter. In 2024, the bandits rob cargo trucks with automatic assault rifles. Mexico has seen a significant increase in cargo truck hijackings throughout the last decade by cartels and other organized crime groups who are determined to generate revenue by any means necessary.

Data in this analysis is derived from Overhaul, a risk management and supply chain intelligence group contracted by shipping and commerce companies to provide threat analysis and real time tracking on thefts in progress, and other open-source materials, e.g. government and other private sector reports/statements. Overhaul’s role is critical as the company is the only group providing finished intelligence data on hijackings thanks to their employment by the shipping and commerce companies. Other data sources for Mexican truck hijackings, such as Borderless Coverage (Reliance Partners), rely on data from the Mexican government, which cannot be properly vetted. Overhaul has revealed an increasingly serious security crisis on Mexico’s highways. In 2023, there were over 20,000 cargo hijackings spread across various states in Mexico.[1]

Approximately 86% of the thefts in 2023 involved violence, where drivers were threatened, kidnapped, or killed.[2] Standard operating procedures for the criminal groups involve setting up fake checkpoints or weigh stations along the highway, threatening truck drivers at gunpoint, and either offloading the trucks cargo or completely commandeering the vehicle. Around 62% of these cargo hijackings take place in central Mexico with the top two states being Mexico State and Puebla.[3] Interestingly, these states are in central and southern Mexico and not near the US border, where a considerable amount of these cargo trucks are bound. Criminals steal a variety of products and goods including automotive, food and beverage, and building materials.

Highway theft affects multiple industries and various company executives have begun to raise concerns. Mexico is the world’s twelfth largest economy and has 13 free trade agreements with 50 countries.[4][5] As such, this issue poses a challenge to not only economic security, but also to Mexico’s attractiveness to foreign direct investment (FDI). Mexico leads the world in total trade to the United States as of September 2024, accounting for roughly 15% of total imports and exports.[6] This article will examine how cargo hijackings in Mexico are affecting economic security and posing a challenge to multinational corporation foreign direct investment in Mexico.

Interstate Economic Security

Crime in Mexico

To understand crime in Mexico, it must first be established the individuals and groups committing the crimes. The following framework applies to all states and cities across Mexico that suffer from crime. There are three main perpetrators of these actions: cartels, organized crime groups, and individual based crime. Cartels represent the major narcotics and trafficking groups who control vast territories across Mexico. Using transnational networks, violence, coercion, and illicit business practices, these organizations have gained an uncontrollable amount of power over the previous century. Due to their revenue, size, and geographic location, these cartels often operate unimpeded by police and military forces as their reach extends beyond a traditional criminal organization. Military style equipment, intelligence collection capabilities, and merciless tactics burn fear into anyone or any entity that challenges them. Primary examples include the Sinaloa Cartel and Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). That said, cartel power could begin to slow in the upcoming years due to future attacks on the cartel’s center of gravity, money from the United States.

In January 2025, newly incumbent President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Mexican cartels and associated groups as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). Just one month later, the State Department issued a press release with the names of eight organizations which are subject to the order: Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel), and Cárteles Unidos.[7] With these groups designated as FTOs, the United States’ ability to counteract their power grows substantially. Whether the Mexican government will pursue the groups with the same tenacity is unknown, although President Sheinbaum’s revamping of the National Guard, which will be discussed later, could pave some headroom.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are average street criminals who rob, kill, steal, and commit other crimes for personal gain. These individuals have allegiance to themselves only and do not conduct their actions for the benefit of a larger group. Situated in the middle are the bandits, or organized crime groups. While not as large or damaging as the cartels and more impactful than single individuals, organized crime groups are the most common form of criminal activity in Mexico are the perpetrators of these cargo hijackings. To understand organized crime, the article uses Juan Garzon’s framework for analyzing organized crime’s three core tenants. Garzón states that organized crime groups must have a “system of relationships with temporary hierarchies and associations.”[8] Furthermore, Garzón states the groups must “supply illegal goods and services in a diverse market” and have the capacity to coerce and use violence against challengers.[9]

In the hijackings’ context, the organized crime groups (criminal armed groups or CAGs) have leaders and foot soldiers who coordinate the hijackings, supply the stolen illegal goods onto an illicit market, and use coercion or violence against truck drivers. The groups also extort ransom payments from companies to earn a cash profit by returning stolen merchandise or threatening additional hijackings against the same companies. Typically, ransom demands are made against larger companies when the potential extortion payment could outweigh the value of the cargo on board the trucks. It is unknown at this time whether the organized crime groups are converging with the cartels, although it is fully plausible that the organized crime groups are acting as a front. Given Washington’s recent declaration of cartels as terrorist organizations, these criminal groups could multiply in the future to counter legal ramifications. Meaning, instead of American companies paying a ransom demand to terrorist organizations, they are dealing with what Garzon classifies as organized crime groups. In general, Garzón’s framework for organized crime will help the reader contextualize just how these groups operate throughout Mexico, whether associated or acting independently from the cartels.

Mexico State & Mexico City

The State of Mexico is Mexico’s most populated state with more than 16 million people.[10] The state also surrounds the nation’s capital, Mexico City. Similar to the United States, Mexico City is likened to Washington D.C., as it is a city not technically located within a state. Mexico City has the second largest population within the country, accounting for over nine million citizens.[11] Mexico State and Mexico City specifically are the hubs of Mexico’s economy.

The Mexican government ranks Mexico State and Mexico City as some of the most dangerous locations in terms of criminal incidents per 100,000 citizens. Data from 2023 ranks Mexico State second highest in this category with a total of 51,881 incidents per 100,000 and Mexico City first with 52,723 incidents.[12] These statistics represent a large increase from 2022 data as Mexico State grew 41.8% (from 36,583 to 51,881 per 100,000) and Mexico City with a 14.5% increase (from 46,032 to 52,723 per 100,000). Mexico State and Mexico City’s increasing crime levels could dissuade future foreign investors looking to nearshore or offshore their operations. According to the Mexican government, foreign companies plan to invest $39 Billion USD in Mexico over 2024, with 12% of the money going to Mexico State alone.[13] Two of the largest industries in Mexico State are automotive and food & beverage with companies like General Motors, Grupo Bimbo, and Coca-Cola FEMSA. For hijackings, Overhaul’s data shows that Mexico State accounted for 27% of the total cargo thefts in 2023.[14] Fortunately, this statistic is down 10 percentage points from the previous year, in 2022.[15] Of the 86% of hijackings involving violence, Mexico State accounted for over half, with 46% including violence.[16] Mexico City and the surrounding territory in Mexico State are not under the purview of Mexico’s traditional large-scale cartels. This paves the way for smaller, organized crime groups to operate without fear of traditional violence brought about by large-scale cartel turf disputes.

Puebla

The second largest state in Mexico affected by cargo hijackings is Puebla. Puebla is the fourth largest state in Mexico by population size, accounting for nearly seven million citizens as of 2020.[17] Puebla is located directly southeast of Mexico City and the State of Mexico, making it a hot spot for foreign investment and manufacturing activities. Co-Production International, a foreign investment manager, states, “Puebla’s GDP is comparable to or has surpassed countries like Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, and Paraguay.”[18] Puebla is home to numerous large industries with foreign direct investment such as automotive, textile, and food & beverage companies. Two of the largest in Puebla are Coca-Cola FEMSA and Volkswagen. Therefore, all these economic industries and companies are threatened by cargo theft and hijackings. The state of Puebla has not been as lucky as Mexico State and suffered a 40% increase in cargo theft from 2022 to 2023.[19] In 2023, Puebla accounted for 21% of all cargo thefts in Mexico.[20] Along with the thefts, Puebla also constituted 32% of cases involving violence.[21] Unlike Mexico State, Puebla also has a presence of Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) cartel members that conflict with other local criminal organizations.[22] All are continuously engaged in narcotics and turf disputes, which could be associated with the crimes involving cargo thefts. Mexico State and Puebla face unique challenges, but there is one thing that both states have in common—a highway.

Trade Route Safety

Circuito Exterior Mexiquense – Highway 57D

The primary interstate economic security challenge is posed to Mexico State’s highway 57D. Overhaul refers to the areas along highway 57D as Circuito Exterior Mexiquense (CEM), otherwise known as the Mexican Ring Road. Highway 57D begins in a neighborhood of Mexico City called San Marcos. From here, highway 57D travels around 1,300 kilometers north up to the United States border where it intersects with the Eagle Pass point of entry in Texas. Eagle Pass is around a two-hour drive from San Antonio, one of the largest cities in Texas. Meaning, highway 57D is a high value target for cartels and other organized crime attempting to hijack cargo from trucks. While the highway stretches over 1,300 kilometers through Mexico to Eagle Pass, the majority of the hijackings take place just north of Mexico City.

Figure 2: Shows a map of highway 150D westbound from Puebla, connecting in central Mexico City to highway 57D. The road then continues northeast bound where it concludes at the Eagle Pass point of entry in Texas, USA.[23]

Puebla uses highway 150D to connect to highway 57D in central Mexico City, visualized by the central star in Figure 2, which then continues north to the United States. Therefore, many of the automotive, food and beverage, and infrastructure goods are being transported along this stretch of road from Puebla’s highway 150D to Mexico State’s highway 57D and interdicted by the hijackers just north of Mexico City along the Mexican Ring Road (CEM). Along the CEM, there are five major municipalities that are affected by the thefts. These are Nextlalpan, Ecatepec, Teoloyucan, Huehuetoca, and Chimalhuacan. The highest percentages of cargo hijacking in these five municipalities for 2023 were Nextlalpan with 25%, Ecatepec with 13%, Teoloyucan with 13%, Huehuetoca with 9%, and Chimalhuacán with 6%.[24] Highway 57D represents one of the riskiest roads in Mexico that is subject to cargo hijacking. One truck driver who was hijacked and kidnapped along highway 57D in Querétaro, Nicho, gave a personal account of his experience. “There are a lot of fake checkpoints,” he says. “You have to stop. They ask you what you are carrying and where you are going. They have military gear on, assault rifles. But they aren’t police, they are criminals.”[25] Kidnappings and murder are not uncommon in these situations. Christian Rauda, CEO of AI27 Logistics, states that 150 drivers were murdered in 2023.[26]

Luis Villatoro, a director at Overhaul, claims that the hijackings around Mexico City are the work of organized crime groups, not cartels, whose goal is to resell the goods in informal markets.[27] Villatoro thus confirms Juan Garzon’s framework on organized crime, citing the reselling of goods in an informal market. Overhaul also consolidated data from 2023 that represents the days and times when the hijackings are most frequent along the CEM. Overhaul found that for 2023, Thursday was the riskiest day with 30% of the total hijackings.[28] Thursday was followed by Friday with 21%, Tuesday with 18%, Wednesday with 12%, Saturday with 9%, Monday with 6%, and Sunday with 4%.[29] Of these days, Overhaul estimates that the hijackings were also centered around specific times during the day when cargo transportation is most vulnerable. Along the CEM, 48% of the thefts took place between 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., 27% from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., 18% from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 7% from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. [30] Transit and insurance authorities are beginning to mandate that trucks do not operate during these times due to the increased risk. Central Mexico with Mexico State and Puebla, specifically along highway 57D (CEM / The Mexican Ring Road) is the hotspot of all hijackings. The next section of this article will explore several new statistics from 2024.

New Statistics for 2024 Hijackings

Overhaul has released an analysis of hijacking data for Q1 of 2024, and the numbers are continuing a similar trend. In Q1 of 2024, there have been an average of 1,713 cargo thefts per month with an average of 57 cargo thefts per day.[31] The total number of cargo thefts for Q1 has been 5,140 with an average of 84% of incidents involving violence.[32] 74% of the thefts have been in-transit while 26% have occurred in unsecured parking locations.[33]

Compared to Q1 of 2023, the thefts have increased at a rate of 1.4%.[34] Following similar trends from 2022 to 2023, Mexico State has decreased in cargo thefts by five percentage points while the state of Puebla has increased by six percentage points.[35] Approximately 68% of the thefts have occurred on tractor trailer trucks with the next leading category being box trucks with 13%.[36] Overhaul has yet to publish total numbers of hijackings for Q2 through Q4 of 2024. Once completed, the 2024 annual cargo hijacking report from Overhaul will paint a descriptive picture of the situation overall. While new security measures along the CEM can be attributed to a plausible reason for thefts in Mexico State to be decreasing, the issue in Puebla along highway 150D is increasing. As previously mentioned, Puebla is one of Mexico’s FDI manufacturing hubs that flourishes with a diverse complex of industries. The next section of this assessment looks at the specific industries being targeted and the impacts on multinational corporations’ decision to invest in these areas of central Mexico.

Impacts on Investment Industries

According to data from 2023, the categories that experienced the most thefts were food and drinks (29%) and building and industrial (12%). 2023 metrics show that only 5% of the total hijackings were related to the automotive industry although crime continues to impact these critical export businesses.[37] Within Mexico State and Puebla specifically, there are five major automotive manufacturers; Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Volkswagen, and Audi. [38] Perhaps unbeknownst to Americans, Stellantis is an Italian American automotive manufacturer that oversees popular American brands such as Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram.[39] Overhaul records a distribution of the total automotive theft into different subcomponents. Parts and liquids comprised 29%, vehicles made up 28%, and tires accommodated for 24%.[40] While it remains undetermined if the hijackers are targeting specific trucks, automotive parts are more difficult to resell in an informal market as opposed to food and beverages. The previous decade has seen an influx of automotive FDI to this central region of Mexico and as this category has increased in hijackings over the past year, automotive manufacturers must take precautions to protect their investments.

Food & Beverage Market

Within the food and beverage market that totals 29% of the hijackings, the two largest producers in the Mexico State and Puebla region are Grupo Bimbo and FEMSA. Grupo Bimbo is a conglomerate of multiple food and beverage companies that has its largest production facility in Tlalnepantla de Baz, a municipality of Mexico City conveniently located near highway 57D. The company also has another large-scale operation in Puebla. Americans would be most familiar with Grupo Bimbo’s brands like Sara Lee bread and Hostess snacks.

FEMSA, also known as the Coca-Cola Corporation, is a large-scale production and bottling company responsible for a myriad of Coca-Cola’s operations in central Mexico. FEMSA Coca-Cola has major production and bottling plants in both Mexico State and Puebla. As recently as September of 2024, Coca-Cola FEMSA has faced setbacks in distribution due to criminal activity following the kidnapping of four truck drivers.[41] Additionally in September, FEMSA temporarily halted operations at one of its distribution centers in the state of Morelos after multiple trucks were hijacked and the crime groups attempted to extort ransom payments from the distribution center.[42] Grupo Bimbo and FEMSA, both with plants across central Mexico, transport their food and beverages on highway 57D north to the United States. The route makes their products notoriously vulnerable to cargo hijacking. Furthermore, criminal gangs reselling food and beverage products is much easier than specialized automotive parts, which contributes to the 29% of total hijackings across Mexico State and Puebla.

Building & Industrial Market

The second largest market impacted is building and industrial which totals 12% of the hijackings. Two of the largest companies based in Mexico State and Puebla are Mabe and Cemex. Mabe is an appliance company that was founded and currently operates in Mexico City that produces refrigerators, washing machines, drying machines, air conditioners, and more.[43] Cemex is a building and construction company that also operates a major facility in the Tepotzotlán municipality of Mexico City. Cemex is the leading producer in Mexico for cement, concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions.[44] Both these companies, with their locations in and around central Mexico, transport goods by truck on highway 57D and specifically, through the Mexican Ring Road (CEM).

Business owners and operators have become increasingly concerned. Jaime Chamberlain, President and owner of Chamberlain Distributing Inc., is frustrated with the increase in hijackings of mining and finished goods, stating in an author interview, “Many other foreign investors across different industry sectors have expressed security concerns directly to Federal and State Mexican governments. Unfortunately, the situation has worsened to the point where investors may not consider Mexico a viable option for new products.[45] Without improvements in security, Mexico could see a dip in FDI.

Chamberlain expressed the necessity of improvements to security functions in order to not dissuade future foreign investors across different business sectors.[46] With the building and industrial market coming in second highest on the list, future investors must consider the risk/reward relationship for their respective businesses.

Hijackings in the Spotlight

Responses

As the frequency of hijackings has consistently increased over the previous three years, logistics specialists, truck drivers, and politicians have begun to notice. Mark Vickers, a logistics specialist at The Wilson Center, states “Mexico’s CONCAMIN business chamber estimates that cargo loss due to violent highway robbery costs businesses in Mexico more than $415 million per year.”[47] Ryan Berg, a Latin American expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says, “Given Mexico’s truck hijacking epidemic, it is a hard sell to entice companies to invest further south… Unless Mexico gets a handle on this facet of its security challenges, Mexico’s nearshoring dream of leveling up the south will not happen.”[48] In February of 2024, truckers across the country lashed out by blocking major highways in retaliation for the violent hijackings.[49] In response to the protest, then President López Obrador brushed aside the issue, stating that the demonstrations were a politicization and labeled the participants as corrupt and sympathetic to the opposition.[50] López Obrador has made numerous similar statements regarding hijackings across the region over the previous years.

New Beginnings

Cargo hijackings will continue to pose a challenge to interstate economic security and impact foreign direct investment in offshoring and nearshoring. As President López Obrador exited the Presidency in late 2024, President Claudia Sheinbaum was inaugurated in October. President Sheinbaum has taken a different approach to security in Mexico compared to her predecessor. During a press conference in March of 2024, Sheinbaum stated her intentions of strengthening interstate security through the use of the military and National Guard, a policy previously struck down by the López Obrador administration.[51] Sheinbaum mentioned the hijackings and referred specifically to the National Guard stating, “We are going to consolidate one [National Guard] particularly so that it can have the capabilities for road surveillance, which is an issue that is still pending.”[52]

Sheinbaum is planning to accomplish increased road surveillance by promoting coordination between the National Guard and the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERVP). ANERVP’s new chief executive, Luis Villatoro Martinez, has expressed the organization’s plans to work closely with the National Guard in five major states where the hijackings are taking place: Mexico State, Puebla, Michoacán, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí.[53] Martinez told Forbes Mexico in an interview, “We will have more feedback from the National Guard, the Federal Public Security Ministry and authorities in five states.”[54]

President Sheinbaum has also collaborated with the National Guard since her inauguration to revamp the BALAM (Biodiversity, Agriculture, Livelihoods, Adaptation & Mitigation to Climate Change) strategy. The BALAM strategy was originally installed to promote environmental security and sustainability across Mexico, although given the increase in cargo hijackings and updates to National Guard functions, President Sheinbaum has begun to use the strategy to bolster security resources on the highways. As part of the new BALAM initiative with the National Guard, over 400 patrol cars, 37 drones, helicopters, and emergency phones have been placed along highways most affected by the hijackings.[55]

The Mexican government reports that since President Sheinbaum was inaugurated in October of 2024, 33 people have been arrested, 225 vehicles have been recovered, and over 290,000 liters of hydrocarbons have been confiscated, leading to a 24.21% increase in recovered vehicles and 8.8% decrease in crime along the federal highways.[56] Given Sheinbaum’s new policies with the National Guard, highway security coordination with ANERVP could prove invaluable in years to come.

Additional organizations such as Overhaul have started to introduce new security measures such as anti-theft, tracking, and surveillance systems to help combat the criminals but also accumulate risk analysis intelligence such as the data herein this article. One method that has seen success in 2024 is the use of engine-disabling technologies. If a driver is about to have their truck stolen, they can trigger a silent alarm that alerts the shipping company and subsequently disables the truck’s engine from starting. Additionally, Mexican officials have also expressed the need for updated security systems along the highways in central Mexico such as CCTV cameras and official guarded checkpoints.

Multinational corporations with business in central Mexico have faced an increase in cost as “companies hire guards, expensive security consultants and specialized satellite positioning devices to track cargo.”[57] Given the uptick in cargo hijackings over the previous three years and a new Mexican president, the issue of cargo hijackings must be properly addressed by the relevant authorities to strengthen interstate economic security and provide a safe location that attracts foreign investors from a complex of different industries. The following section will provide the author’s recommendations to both parties for combatting this undervalued issue.

Recommendations for the Mexican Government and FDI Businesses

Mexican Government

• Increase investment in the National Guard’s “Carreteras” digital alert service, which allows users to report real time incidents on the highway such as traffic collisions, or in this case, cargo hijackings. Furthermore, the National Guard should establish an investigative unit focused solely on pursuing the cargo hijackers.
• Promote coordination with private corporations such as the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERVP) and Overhaul to increase awareness, strengthen security measures, and provide accurate risk management solutions.
• Integrate policies of BALAM with the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) and National Guard to create standard operating procedures and guidelines specifically for highway safety and security.

Multinational Corporation FDI Businesses

• Increase awareness of cargo hijackings’ impact to instruct truck drivers on proper safety procedures, alternative routes, implementation of modern technologies, usage of armed guards when possible, and coordination with Mexican authorities.
• Collaborate with risk management firms like Overhaul to provide updates on newly targeted routes, changes in criminal tactics, and provide general intelligence that can help additional companies mitigate economic damage from the hijackings.

Conclusion

Organized crime groups (including CAGs) in Mexico are here to stay and the same can be stated for crime along the highways. Nevertheless, President Sheinbaum and the businesses operating trucks in Mexico have already expressed their plans for improving the security of highways and in turn, the trucks traveling on those highways. The hijackers represent the embodiment of Garzon’s framework on organized crime, meaning they can be combatted by attacking the nodes that constitute the network. The largest organized crime component that businesses and the Mexican government are affecting is the groups’ capacity to use violence or coercion to hijack the trucks. Cameras, engine-disabling functions, trackers, armed guards, National Guard presence, real-time updating services, and alternative routes are all methods that cut into organized crimes’ ability to conduct hijackings. While organized crime groups cannot be removed permanently, their impacts on businesses in Central Mexico along the highways can be curbed by joint efforts and collaboration. This understudied topic can be brought to the attention of future business leaders hoping to conduct operations in Mexico through a combined effort of the Mexican government and corporations already doing business in Mexico.

Endnotes

[1] “Mexico: Annual Cargo Theft Report 2023.” Overhaul. 2024, https://over-haul.com/mexico-annual-cargo-theft-report-2023/#.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] “GDP (Current US$) | Data.” World Bank. 2023. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true.

[5] International Trade Administration, “Mexico – Trade Agreements.” International Trade Administration. 5 November 2023, https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mexico-trade-agreements.

[6] “International Trade.” United States Census Bureau. 2024, https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/topcm.html#total.

[7] Marco Rubio, “Terrorist Designations of International Cartels – United States Department of State.” United States Department of State. 20 February 2025, https://www.state.gov/terrorist-designations-of-international-cartels/.

[8] Juan Carlos Garzón, Mafia & Co.: The Criminal Networks in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. Translated by Kathy Ogle. Washington, DC: The Wilson Center for International Scholars, 2011.

[9] Ibid.

[10] “Censo de Población Y Vivienda 2020.” Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. 2021, https://www.inegi.org.mx/app/scitel/Default?ev=9.

[11] Ibid.

[12] “Encuesta Nacional de Victimización y Percepción Sobre Seguridad Pública (Envipe) 2023.” Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. 2024,

https://www.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/saladeprensa/boletines/2023/ENVIPE/ENVIPE_23.pdf.

[13] “Foreign and Multinational Companies Announce Plans to Invest over US $39B in Mexico.” Mexico News Daily. 10 June 2024, https://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/foreign-companies-invest-in-mexico-may-2024/.

[14] Op. cit., Overhaul at Note #1

[15] Ibid.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Op. cit.. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía at Note #10.

[18] “Puebla: Strategically Located between Mexico City and the Major Container Ports of Vera Cruz.” Co-Production International Inc. 2024, https://www.co-production.net/manufacturing-in-mexico/strategic-manufacturing-locations/mainland-mexico-manufacturing/puebla-manufacturing-mexico.html.

[19] Op. cit., Overhaul at Note #1,

[20] Ibid.

[21] Ibid.

[22] Ioan Grillo, “Mexico’s Cartel Map 2024.” Crashout Media. 3 January 2024, https://www.crashoutmedia.com/p/mexicos-cartel-map-2024.

[23] “Large Detailed Roads and Highways Map of Mexico with Cities.” Mapsland. 2014, https://www.mapsland.com/north-america/mexico/large-detailed-roads-and-highways-map-of-mexico-with-administrative-divisions-and-cities.

[24] Op. cit. Overhaul at Note #1,

[25] Nathaniel P. Flannery, “The Newest Threat to the Global Supply Chain? Hijackers.” The Hustle. 6 September 2024, https://thehustle.co/originals/the-newest-threat-to-the-global-supply-chain-hijackers.[26] Ibid.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Op. cit., Overhaul at Note #1,

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid.

[31] “Q1-2024 Cargo Theft Trends – Mexico.” Overhaul. 2024, https://over-haul.com/mexico-q1-2024-cargo-theft-trends/.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Ibid.

[34] Ibid.

[35] Ibid.

[36] Ibid.

[37] Op. cit., Overhaul at Note #1.

[38] “The 26 Automotive Plants in Mexico.” Opportimes. 6 September 2023, https://www.opportimes.com/the-26-automotive-plants-in-mexico/.

[39] “Our Brands.” Stellantis. 2024, https://www.stellantis.com/en/brands.

[40] Op. cit., Overhaul at Note #1,

[41] “Coca-Cola Suspends Distribution in Southern Morelos after Kidnapping Incident.” Mexico News Daily. 13 September 2024, https://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/coca-cola-suspends-distribution-morelos-kidnapping/.

[42] “Mexico: Coca-Cola Plant Closes after Cargo Hijackings | Ackerman Group.” Ackerman Group. 16 September 2024, https://ackermangroup.com/mexico-coca-cola-plant-closes-after-cargo-hijackings/.

[43] “Mabe | Homepage.” Mabe Global. 2025, https://mabeglobal.com/es_MX/.

[44] “Corporate Home – CEMEX.” Cemex. 2019, https://www.cemex.com/.

[45] Jamie Chamberlain, “Cargo Hijackings in Mexico.” Interview by Cole Sledge. 12 December 2024.

[46] Ibid.

[47] Mark Vickers. “Mexico’s New President Should Protect the Nearshoring Boom by Improving Highway Security.” Wilson Center. 6 August 2024, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/mexicos-new-president-should-protect-nearshoring-boom-improving-highway-security.

[48] Op. cit., Nathanial P. Flannery at Note #25.

[49] Nathaniel P. Flannery, “Cargo Truck Hijacking Is a Major Problem in Mexico.” Forbes. 19 February 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/2024/02/19/cargo-truck-hijacking-is-a-major-problem-in-mexico/.

[50] Amir Olivares, “La Jornada: Ve AMLO Fines Politiqueros Tras Protestas de Camioneros.” La Jornada. 16 February 2024, https://www.jornada.com.mx/2024/02/16/estados/028n1est.

[51] La 4TV, “Claudia Sheinbaum Conferencia de Prensa Desde Tehuacán, Puebla.” YouTube. 10 March 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWVMgFm11R8.

[52] Ibid.

[53] “National Guard to Work with Tracking Firms in 5 States to Find Stolen Cargo Vehicles.” Mexico News Daily. 6 November 2024. https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-highway-cargo-theft/.

[54] Ibid.

[55] “Anuncia Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum Incremento Del 12% al Salario Mínimo En 2025.” Presidente de la República. 2024, https://www.gob.mx/presidencia/prensa/anuncia-presidenta-claudia-sheinbaum-incremento-del-12-al-salario-minimo-en-2025?idiom=es.

[56] Ibid.

[57] “Mexican Trains, Trucks Hijacked in New Crime Wave.” Reuters. 28 May 2009, https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/mexican-trains-trucks-hijacked-in-new-crime-wave-idUSN26448848/.