Background on Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and His Impact
Almost a year after the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a prominent figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, vehicle thefts in Sinaloa have skyrocketed by 170%. Zambada’s detention triggered a wave of violence in the region, which has since contributed to the escalating vehicle theft issue.
AMIS Reports on Nationwide Vehicle Thefts
According to the Mexican Insurance Association (AMIS), a total of 60,600 insured vehicles were stolen across Mexico over the past 12 months, marking a 2% decrease compared to the same period last year. The recovery rate stands at 42%.
Sinaloa’s Rising Vehicle Theft Statistics
In the period from June 2024 to June 2025, Sinaloa saw 3,757 insured vehicles stolen, making it the fifth state in Mexico with the highest number of vehicle thefts. This represents a significant increase from 1,387 stolen vehicles in the same period a year earlier.
Of these thefts, 84% involved violence, positioning Sinaloa as the entity with the highest percentage of violent vehicle thefts in the country.
Culiacán Leads in Vehicle Thefts
AMIS reported that Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, now leads the nation in vehicle thefts with 2,762 stolen vehicles over the past year. This surpasses both Guadalajara, Jalisco (2,539 thefts) and Ecatepec, State of Mexico (1,854 thefts).
Contextualizing the Arrests and Subsequent Violence
Zambada’s arrest, along with other key cartel figures, sparked an internal conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel. In September of the previous year, a war erupted between factions led by “Los Chapitos,” the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s group, known as La Mayiza.
Positive Trends in Vehicle Thefts
Despite the surge in Sinaloa, AMIS highlighted that vehicle thefts nationwide have decreased by 2% compared to the previous year. In June 2025, an average of 145 vehicles were stolen daily, a slight decrease from the 169 vehicles stolen on average in June 2024.
“We can say that the news is positive, as we see a containment in the number of stolen vehicles,” said Norma Alicia Rosas, the AMIS director general. “Our figures are similar to those recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Top States for Vehicle Thefts
- State of Mexico: 15,209 vehicles
- Jalisco: 7,139 vehicles
- Mexico City: 5,550 vehicles
- Puebla: 4,367 vehicles
- Sinaloa: 3,757 vehicles
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main reason for the surge in vehicle thefts in Sinaloa? The arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, triggered a wave of violence that has contributed to the escalating vehicle theft issue.
- How many vehicles were stolen in Sinaloa over the past year? Approximately 3,757 insured vehicles were stolen in Sinaloa from June 2024 to June 2025.
- Which Mexican city now leads in vehicle thefts? Culiacán, Sinaloa, has become the city with the highest number of vehicle thefts in Mexico, with 2,762 stolen vehicles over the past year.
- What is the national trend in vehicle thefts? Despite the increase in Sinaloa, vehicle thefts nationwide have decreased by 2% compared to the previous year.
- What are the top five states for vehicle thefts in Mexico? The State of Mexico, Jalisco, Mexico City, Puebla, and Sinaloa are the top five states with the highest number of insured vehicle thefts between June 2024 and June 2025.
