Mexico Sees Drop in Killings but Surge in Disappearances and Extortion, Report Finds

A member of the National Guard secures the area while forensic personnel work at the site where pieces of human body were abandoned in the tourist port city of Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on July 7, 2024 (Credit: Photo by Francisco ROBLES / AFP)

Mexico recorded a 22.7% drop in homicides over the past year, but a new report warns that disappearances, extortion and the fragmentation of criminal groups continue to pose major challenges for the country's security institutions, according to the 2026 Peace Index, published Tuesday by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

According to findings, Mexico improved its overall peace levels by 5.1%, marking one of the country's most significant reductions in lethal violence in recent years. The report aligns with data repeatedly highlighted by President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration, which has pointed to falling homicide rates as evidence that its security strategy is producing results.