In the State of Mexico, the daily average of intentional homicides has fallen from 6.6 to 2.8 over 21 months, a 58% reduction, according to figures presented by Mexican federal authorities. The data, released during a press conference led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, also showed a 38.1% drop in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Officials attributed the decline to daily inter-agency coordination meetings known as Peace Tables, which bring together federal, state and municipal forces.

The trend extends beyond Mexico. In Brazil, the city of Jacareí in São Paulo state recorded its lowest number of murders in a decade, with just three killings between January and May 2026, down from four a year earlier, the state security secretariat reported. In Colombia, the department of Cundinamarca was the only one to register a decrease in homicides relative to its population, with a 9.7% drop, alongside a 70% fall in kidnappings, according to the governor’s office. Both jurisdictions credited integrated technology and joint patrols for the results.

Mexican authorities also announced the arrest of Alberto “N”, alias “El Virus”, described as a priority target for the Mexico City attorney general’s office and alleged leader of a criminal group operating in the capital and the State of Mexico. The capture, carried out by federal and state forces, was presented as a direct outcome of the coordination strategy.

Other security indicators, however, paint a more mixed picture. The Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS) reported a 5-10% increase in “montachoques” — staged car crashes used to extort money — in the Valley of Mexico during the first half of the year, based on insurer reports. The association also warned of a sharp rise in bus passenger thefts, from 68 to 162 units in the past year, while overall vehicle theft fell 16.2% to its lowest level in five years. AMIS noted that many stolen buses are later used in other crimes, and that only 17% of Mexico’s small and medium-sized enterprises hold any insurance, leaving them exposed to weather and cyber risks.

All figures remain provisional, and investigations into criminal networks continue. In Jacareí, authorities are now planning security for large upcoming events, while Cundinamarca officials say the “Plan Candado” of road controls and joint patrols will be maintained. No long-term forecasts have been issued.