Cargo transport theft has become one of the greatest challenges for logistics in Mexico. Beyond the financial losses, this crime endangers drivers’ lives and raises supply chain costs.
Puebla, the new epicenter of cargo transport theft
The Q2 2025 Overhaul report reveals that Puebla has overtaken the State of Mexico as the state with the most incidents. In total, it accounts for 23.5% of cases, compared to 20% in the State of Mexico. Eight out of ten thefts involve violence, and recent months have seen the murder of truck drivers. The problem is concentrated in the central and Bajío regions, home to the country’s main logistics corridors.
Altogether, 87.6% of thefts occurred in just ten states: Puebla, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Veracruz, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro. This reflects a “territorial compensation” phenomenon: while incidents drop in some states, they rise in others.
Modus operandi and most vulnerable cargo
Food and beverages topped the list with 33% of incidents, followed by construction and industrial materials (10%) and miscellaneous goods (7%). Steel, aluminum, and copper also stood out, rising to 4% of cases.
Theft in transit accounted for 65% of cases, while 34% targeted stationary vehicles, especially in high-risk areas known as “cachimbas.” Nighttime remains the riskiest period, with 55% of incidents occurring between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m.
Escalating violence and government response
Eighty-one percent of cargo transport thefts involve violence, most often with firearms. In the second quarter alone, at least eight truck drivers were murdered. To address the crisis, the federal government launched the “Zero Thefts” plan, aimed at securing three critical highways with more than 1,000 deployed security personnel, dynamic checkpoints, and new rest areas.
Cargo transport theft in Mexico has now become a structural problem combining violence, shifting criminal targets, and regional concentration. Companies must strengthen security systems and work closely with authorities to protect not only their assets but also the lives of their operators.
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Sources
Espinosa, G. (2025, 18 agosto). Radiografía del robo de transporte de carga en México. THE LOGISTICS WORLD | Conéctate E Inspírate. https://thelogisticsworld.com/transporte/radiografia-robo-transporte-carga-mexico-datos-overhaul/
Salas, C. (2025, 21 agosto). Se dispara el robo de metales en carreteras de México: Puebla, Guanajuato, Edomex y San Luis Potosí, los más afectados. Infobae. https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2025/08/21/se-dispara-el-robo-de-metales-en-carreteras-de-mexico-puebla-guanajuato-edomex-y-san-luis-potosi-los-mas-afectados/
