Mexico appears as the third country with the greatest presence and intensity of organized crime internationally.According to Global Organized Crime Index 2025 Prepared by Global Initiative to combat transnational organized crime (Jiatuk).
The study places Mexico only behind Myanmar and Colombiahighlights the complex consolidation and diversification of illicit markets, criminal networks and institutional weaknesses in the country. The country achieved a score of 7.68 out of 10 for crime, beating its previous record from 2023, when it received a score of 7.57.
According to the report, published on November 10, Mexico leads the international measurement in… Criminal marketsWith a rating of 8.27.
he Synthetic drug trafficking, extortion and arms smuggling The highest scores are concentrated, each of which has 9 points. The authorities have recognized that major criminal groups, e.g Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)They expanded their influence towards new crimes, such as Human trafficking, sexual exploitation, fuel or huachicol theft, environmental crimes, and cybercrimes.
Human trafficking and smuggling mainly affects southern regions, including… Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrerowhere Indigenous people They are the main victims. He also points this out Immigration Adverse social and economic conditions have increased the presence of criminal organizations on routes into the United States.
Other sectors, such as agriculture, trade and fishing, are also suffering. blackmailWith a focus on the avocado industry and coastal fishing.
Expand on Counterfeit goods It contributes to the criminal economy, which includes the trade in tobacco, alcohol, medicines and clothing. Areas like Tepito In Mexico City and the markets in the northern states remain nerve centers for the party Distribution of illicit products.
Arms smuggling, with estimates of more than 13 million units are not registered in the countryThis enhances the firepower of criminal organizations, the report stated.
the Environmental crimes They are gaining increasing weight in the Mexican criminal spectrum. Criminal networks operate with regional authority Illegal logginghe Species trafficking Such as tigers and reptiles towards Asia and control them Mining And fuel theft.
he Global Organized Crime Index 2025 Mexico appointed A Corporate resilience reached 4.50 points out of 10, placing it 111th out of 193 countries analysed.. This indicator reflects the limits of the state’s ability to contain the progress of criminal networks.
The report indicates that the judicial system is facing… Corruption, lack of resources and political pressureswhile militarizing public security, with centralization national guard, It did not reflect the perception of insecurity.
The report highlights The influence of criminal organizations on government structures at all levels. Gang control over prisons and “systematic bribery” in the prison system represent a major challenge to the state.
The report’s findings provide an unprecedented quantitative picture of organized crime in Mexico:
- Total crime: Mexico ranks third among the countries with the highest rates of organized crime out of the 193 countries assessed, after Myanmar and Colombia.
- State corruption: It ranks fifth in the world in terms of criminal penetration within government and state forces, with levels similar to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Crime-related violence and homicides: Mexico is among the five worst countries in the world in this field, with rates higher than countries witnessing wars such as Sudan and Nigeria.
- Drug smuggling: It is part of the top 3 companies in the world in terms of network capacity, scale and sophistication, especially in synthetic drugs and fentanyl.
- Judicial system and prisons: It is among the 25 worst prison systems on the planet. The report places it between 170 and 190 due to the low independence of the judiciary and the high rates of arrest of criminals.
- Money laundering: Mexico is among the 30 most vulnerable countries, ranking above 160 in the global assessment.
- International cooperation: The country ranks third in the world (about 130 to 193) in terms of coordination and implementation of joint crime-fighting strategies.
The report highlights that organized crime is not only expanding into traditional markets, but is also creating forms of violence and crime that are becoming increasingly interconnected, adaptive and difficult to combat, especially in the face of states that are increasingly co-opted by criminal actors.
“Like the many-headed hydra, criminal groups They adapt quickly, taking advantage of emerging or worsening conflicts And alignment with digital developments“, as stated in the GIATOC study.
The results show that the global organized crime problem is advancing faster than countries can strengthen their response capacity: from 57 countries with high crime rates and low adaptive capacity in 2023, it rises to 66 countries in 2025.
About The Author
