Strengthening Road Security with Advanced Communication Equipment
The Mexican Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) aims to enhance its presence on the country’s highways by purchasing advanced communication technology for crime prevention and detection. SEDENA has requested 127 million 393,327 pesos from the Secretariat of Public Finance and Credit (SHCP) to acquire these equipment.
Key Objectives of the Technology Acquisition
- Robust Detection of Stolen Vehicles: The new equipment will enable the reading of license plates and cross-referencing with databases such as the Public Vehicle Registry (Repuve) or Plataforma México to identify stolen vehicles.
- Monitoring of Cargo Transport: SEDENA plans to monitor the passage of cargo vehicles along critical routes to prevent or respond to cargo theft and detect illegal vehicle technology, like signal jammers.
- Automatic Evidence Generation: The technology will automatically generate georreferenced evidence in case of crime or evasion, improving road safety conditions for users.
Context and Relevance
In April, the National System for Public Security Executive reported 519 robberies against transportation companies, a 25% decrease compared to the same month in 2024. Despite this decline, transportation entrepreneurs continue to demand increased surveillance due to perceived higher levels of violence against operators, including instances of gunfire, which were not previously observed.
Factors Influencing Equipment Acquisition
The Defense considers the following factors when acquiring new equipment:
- Currency Fluctuations: Variations in the total cost of goods due to exchange rate fluctuations could increase the final acquisition cost, affecting the planned budget.
- Dollar Value Increase: An increase in the dollar’s value at the time of purchase could also raise the overall cost.
Priority Regions for Equipment Deployment
Although the information is classified, SEDENA intends to prioritize equipment deployment in regions with high incidences of violent vehicle theft. These areas include Puebla, State of Mexico, Morelos, Michoacán, Jalisco, and Sinaloa. The primary targets of the criminals are cargo trucks, passenger buses, construction machinery, and private vehicles.
Technology Details
According to the project managed by the Defense General Transmissions, SEDENA plans to purchase specialized towers equipped with various sensors and cameras. These will be strategically positioned and connected to relevant information centers.
SEDENA has already completed all necessary technical, legal, economic, environmental, and other related studies for the acquisition. The request for resources complies with all requirements.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of this technology acquisition? The Mexican Defense Department aims to strengthen highway security by detecting stolen vehicles, monitoring cargo transport, and generating automatic evidence in case of crime.
- Which regions will prioritize equipment deployment? The priority regions for deploying the new technology are Puebla, State of Mexico, Morelos, Michoacán, Jalisco, and Sinaloa.
- What factors are influencing the acquisition process? The Defense is considering currency fluctuations and potential increases in the dollar’s value at the time of purchase, which could affect the overall budget.
