Introduction
The governments of seven central Mexican states—Ciudad de México, Estado de México, Morelos, Guerrero, Puebla, Hidalgo, and Tlaxcala—have agreed to form a united front against extortion, one of the most damaging crimes affecting the population. This pact was announced by Clara Brugada Molina, the Head of Government for Ciudad de México, during the Fourth Metropolitan Meeting of Interstate Coordination.
Background and Relevance
Initially focusing on vehicle theft, this security collaboration has now expanded to prioritize extortion. The involved states aim to update legislative reforms, enhancing penalties and harmonizing their criminal codes.
Achievements and Future Measures
Clara Brugada Molina highlighted that the coordination has successfully reduced vehicle theft by 20% in Hidalgo, Morelos, Estado de México, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Ciudad de México. Some states have seen a decrease of 5%, while others have experienced a reduction of up to 48%.
To build on these achievements, the states plan to implement measures such as regulating motorcycle gear, installing more metal detectors, and proposing a C5 Metropolitano system.
Morelos Governor’s Perspective
Margarita González Saravia, the governor of Morelos, emphasized that these ongoing meetings have evolved from addressing illegal logging to combating vehicle theft and now tackling extortion. She expressed confidence in the effectiveness of these accords, stating that “the experience shows us that these agreements are yielding results.”
González Saravia also mentioned her efforts, in collaboration with municipalities, to modernize security technology. This includes installing surveillance systems, roadblocks, and Command and Control (C2) centers using resources from the Fondo de Aportaciones para el Fortalecimiento de los Municipios (Fortamun).
Next Steps
The upcoming Interstate Coordination Meeting will take place in Hidalgo, continuing the joint security strategy for the region.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of this security pact? The primary objective is to combat extortion, a crime that significantly impacts the population.
- Which states are part of this agreement? The participating states are Ciudad de México, Estado de México, Morelos, Guerrero, Puebla, Hidalgo, and Tlaxcala.
- What measures are being taken to address extortion? The states plan to update legislative reforms, enhance penalties, and harmonize criminal codes. They also aim to implement measures like regulating motorcycle gear, installing more metal detectors, and proposing a C5 Metropolitano system.
- What has been achieved so far in reducing vehicle theft? Vehicle theft has decreased by 20% on average in the participating states, with some experiencing reductions of up to 48%.
- What other initiatives are being pursued by the governors? Morelos Governor Margarita González Saravia is working on modernizing security technology, including installing surveillance systems, roadblocks, and Command and Control centers with support from Fortamun.
- Where will the next Interstate Coordination Meeting take place? The upcoming meeting will be held in Hidalgo.
