Homicides Decrease Slightly, But Human Trafficking Surges

Key Takeaways 

• Mexico's national violence levels fell slightly with a 8.9 percent decline in homicides in Q1 2022 compared with Q4 2021. However, several states saw increases in the homicide rate, including Colima, Puebla, Nuevo León, Michoacán, and Morelos, highlighting the heterogeneity of violence levels across the country. The sustained high levels of violence reflect Mexico's position on the new Global Organised Crime Index 2021, ranked as the fourth highest-scoring country in the world.
• Whilst gender-based violence has seen small fluctuations in recent years, femicides in Q1 2022 increased 6 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Meanwhile, sexual abuse rates have increased 8.9 percent year-on-year (YoY). Public anger against gender-based violence and the authorities' failure to address this issue will continue to drive large-scale and sometimes violent unrest in the country, particularly as the feminist movement across Mexico continues to gain momentum as reports of femicides continue to increase. Feminist groups are particularly strong and active in Mexico City and other major urban centres across Mexico.
• Human trafficking saw a dramatic increase in Q1 2022. The sharp rise in the incidence of human trafficking highlights how criminal groups are able to manipulate the current socio-economic conditions and legislation. This poses increased risk for companies operating in Mexico, particularly those that recruit staff through third party entities who fail to carry out sufficient due diligence processes, increasing reputational and governance risks.

Overview- Slight decline in national violence levels but state-level data remains heterogenous

According to Mexico’s national statistics institute (INEGI), the national homicide rate fell to 8.9 percent in Q1 2022 compared with Q4 2021.The first quarter of 2022 was Mexico's least violent first quarter since 2017, with homicides falling 12.9 percent relative to the same period last year. This equates to 6,152 homicides reported between January and March 2022, compared with 7,061 homicides reported between the same months in 2021. Six states continue to concentrate 50 percent of all homicides: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Estado de México, Baja California, Jalisco, and Sonora.

The states with the largest increase in homicides quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) Colima (29 percent increase), where violence has largely been driven by the renewed competition over the port of Manzanillo between the Cártel Jalisco Nuevo Generación (CJNG) and the Sinaloa drug trafficking organisation and their local allies. Colima is a strategic transhipment point for weapons, cocaine shipments, and illicit drug precursor chemicals. Clashes between criminal groups resulted in over 40 homicides in two weeks in March.

Puebla and Nuevo León states also saw significant increases in homicides Q1 2022, with a 21 percent and 20 percent QoQ rise respectively. The arrests of leaders of a branch of the CJNG produced a spike in violence in Puebla, whilst the arrest of leaders of the Cártel del Noreste has provoked violence in Nuevo León. Meanwhile, turf wars between local groups and the CJNG caused an increase in homicide rates in Q1 2022 in Michoacán (19 percent increase). These turf wars have been ongoing since 2020. Between January and March 2022, Michoacán reported 730 murders. Furthermore, homicide rates in Morelos state increased 12 percent. Morelos is a key transit route to smuggle drugs and other contraband from the Pacific coast into Mexico City. Violence increased last year as the CJNG and splinter groups of the Beltrán Leyva and La Familia Michoacana drug trafficking organisations engaged in a struggle for control of the territory.

The still high levels of violence reflect Mexico's ranking on the new Global Organised Crime Index 2021, which considers human trafficking human smuggling, arms trafficking, flora crimes, fauna crimes, non-

renewable resource crimes and the trade of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and synthetic drugs. Mexico ranked fourth highest, with only Colombia ranking higher in the region.

The states with the largest decrease in homicides were Campeche (45 percent decrease), Mexico City (41 percent), Tabasco (34 percent), Durango (32 percent), and Chihuahua (31 percent).

Gender-based violence continues to increase

Whilst Mexico's overall homicide rate has fallen slightly, reports of femicide and sexual abuse continue to rise. Between January and March 2022, 229 alleged femicides were registered in Mexico. Estado de México is the state with the most reported cases, with 39 femicides so far in 2022. It is followed by Nuevo León and Veracruz with 21 reported cases in each state. Meanwhile, sexual abuse rates have increased 8.9 percent year-on-year (YoY). Rape, harassment, and domestic abuse have all continued to increase in Q1 2022.

The increase in gender-based violence will likely be a catalyst for social unrest in the coming months. Between 22 and 25 April, hundreds of women demonstrated against gender violence across urban centres in Mexico, with large demonstrations in Mexico City and Monterrey, the capital of Nuevo León state. The protests were sparked by the discovery of a teenage girl inside a hotel water tank in Monterey on 21 April. Unlike previous women's rights demonstrations in recent years, the marches were largely peaceful with no looting or vandalism. Protests against the growing violence against women have been frequent across the country, with people criticising the authorities perceived mishandling of the cases, as well as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s constant downplaying of gender issues. These factors will continue to fuel anger among women’s rights groups. It is likely that gender-related protests will grow and intensify in the coming months as cases of femicides continue to increase, particularly in Mexico City and other major urban centres.

Kidnaps continue to show downward trend

According to the data, 150 kidnaps were reported in Q1 2022, a YoY decrease of 6.8 percent. However, some states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, and Oaxaca reported increases in kidnapping cases. Michoacán, for example, reported a sharp 160 percent QoQ rise in kidnaps in Q1 2022, with a 44.4 percent YoY increase.

Human Trafficking surges

Human trafficking in Mexico significantly increased in Q1 2022, with a YoY increase of 53.6 percent and a 65.6 percent increase compared with Q4 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated human trafficking activity in Mexico, as it drove millions into poverty and increased the number of people vulnerable to exploitation. This has been compounded by the declining interest and attention given to the issue by the authorities, which has allowed people smuggling groups to reorganise and operate with less scrutiny from law enforcement. Women and young girls are frequently trafficked to be sexually exploited as well as forced to work in domestic services. Meanwhile, men and boys are most likely to be forced to work in the mining and construction sectors....