The Sheinbaum effect. Mexico sees record drop in crime

The daily homicide rate has dropped by almost 40% in Mexico. compared to the period before President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, representatives of the Mexican government announced on Thursday.

In December 2025, an average of 52.4 homicides were committed each day compared to 98.9 in September 2024 – the last month before Sheinbaum became president.

– This is the lowest number since 2016 – Sheinbaum emphasized at the press conference.

The government of former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ended its mandate with record statistics of murders, most often committed by drug cartels and other criminal gangs.

Shortly after taking office, Sheinbaum announced that her security plan would focus on collecting intelligence on cartels and trying to eliminate the causes of crime at the source, including by: improving the living conditions of the poorest – in line with Obrador's strategy known as “hugs, not bullets”. However, she ruled out a return to the open war on gangs waged by the former Mexican governments. (PAP)

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