The indicators reveal that illegal arms trafficking between Mexico and the United States is among the phenomena that most affect national security. “This weaponry is available to anyone,” said Deputy Paloma Sánchez Ramos on March 30, when the Chamber of Deputies approved constitutional reforms to establish this as a serious crime.
The initiative, sent to the Senate of the Republic, seeks to arrest criminals who have unleashed insecurity due to illegal arms trafficking. The legislators pointed out that the provision will discourage criminal conduct and will contribute to security, order and peace in Mexico, as well as the prosecution of criminal conduct, as explained in a statement.
According to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, around 15 million weapons circulate in the country. Of these, 85% entered illegally and with them 67.4% of intentional homicides in Mexico are committed.
During 2021, crimes committed by illegal weapons increased 68.7%, stated the deputy Juan Carlos Natale López. In addition, between 2007 and 2018, homicides with firearms grew 35% in men and 500% among women, “the gender most affected by arms trafficking.”
For its part, the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) reported that each year about 200,000 weapons of all kinds enter Mexico. This means that, on average, 567 weapons enter the country per day (22 per hour). Deputy Paloma Sánchez pointed out that 70% of the weapons in Mexico come from the United States.
According to the initiative, 80% of the 15 million illegal weapons circulating in Mexico are in the hands of organized crime, criminal groups and armed groups called self-defense groups.
Illegal arms trafficking and crime in Mexico
Sánchez Ramos specified that violence with firearms as a product of illegal trafficking threatens the fundamental right to life. He points out that the introduction of weapons, whether or not they are for the exclusive use of the government, is related to the commission of homicides, injuries, kidnapping, property damage, organized crime, human trafficking and various crimes. This results in effects on the economy and security at the local and national level.
Data from the Executive Secretariat show that arms trafficking also not only produces homicides: around 14,000 robberies and another 1,600 crimes such as kidnapping and threats involving weapons occur every day. As a result, more than 150,000 Mexicans have been injured in these events and live with permanent damage to their physical and mental health.
Will this measure solve the problem?
“The reform by itself does not solve the phenomenon of violence, but it allows generating mechanisms that strengthen criminal investigation and ensures criminal proceedings,” added Sánchez Ramos.
Although the authorities seek to prevent the proliferation of organized crime, for now we still need to protect ourselves, our loved ones, collaborators and assets.
While this and other judicial reforms begin to yield results, citizens must turn to private security companies. These cover the demand for trained personnel, surveillance equipment and immediate response to react to the commission of a crime.
Given this, both companies and individuals require a security approach that combines digital tools with state-of-the-art technology and trained guards to handle any dangerous situation, such as services Industrial Safety Multisystems Group.
For example, security cameras are an excellent ally to identify potential thieves, monitor their movements in real time and stop them before or during the theft. your division SmartSafe It provides all the tools to protect property, merchandise, and people: alarms, sending units from the Ministry of Public Security, and even legal support to proceed legally.
They not only strategically install video surveillance systems, they also connect them to their Millennium National Monitoring Center. And when it comes to physical protection, Multisistemas created the Special Immediate Reaction Corps (CERI)a division of elite guards supported by the highest security technology.