A surge of violence in western Mexico is putting supply chains on high alert. After Mexican security forces conducted operations in Jalisco state, retaliatory attacks erupted as crime-linked affiliates set vehicles and gas stations ablaze, blocked highways, and initiated a cascade of firefights across multiple states. Authorities cleared over 250 cartel roadblocks spanning 20 states in the aftermath. This instability has immediate implications for any company moving goods through the region. It’s also a stark reminder that nearshoring operations to Mexico and Latin America, a strategy on the rise for North American businesses, must be accompanied by comprehensive and actionable supply chain security and business continuity plans (read Five steps to smart supply chain diversification in LATAM).
Mexico already ranks among the world’s highest-risk environments for cargo theft.
Even before this latest turmoil, Mexico accounted for roughly 28% of all cargo hijackings worldwide and an estimated 73% of theft incidents there involve violence (read Cross-Border Freight Security: Protecting Your Cargo in Mexico). In other words, supply chain crime in Mexico is often organized and armed.
Nearshoring boom meets a security storm
The push to nearshore manufacturing and distribution to Latin America has funneled unprecedented freight volumes into Mexico. Unfortunately, criminal activity has kept pace. In fact, cargo thefts in Mexico spiked so sharply in 2025 that the first quarter’s incidents exceeded the entire total for 2024 according to a joint BSI Consulting and TT Club report. This trend shows that organizations expanding in Mexico are learning the hard way that proximity doesn’t equal safety. Each new factory or logistics hub opened in the region must contend with sophisticated theft rings and local cartels that see opportunity in the influx of high-value goods (read Three major upstream challenges with nearshoring).
These most recent disruptions illustrate the type and breadth of threats in Mexico. Manzanillo, Mexico’s largest west coast port, closed because of the violence, and trucking capacity tightened sharply as drivers were wary of driving in high-risk areas. Extended disruptions could lead to bottlenecks and delays at the border with the US at Laredo and El Paso, among other border crossings, as shippers look to move freight following the upheavals.
To protect people and products, companies operating in Mexico or nearby high-risk areas need to elevate supply chain security immediately.
Below is a brief look at the three of the top security risks and the recommended precautions for this region:
1. Rail cargo
Security risks
- Freight trains remain exposed due to long, lightly monitored routes.
- Criminal groups have derailed or halted trains by sabotaging brakes or signals.
- Limited real‑time tracking and extended dwell times at rail yards increase theft risks.
Recommended precautions and mitigations
- Strengthen monitoring using Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers, internet of things (IoT) sensors, and improved visibility tools.
- Equip rail containers with high‑security locks and seals.
- Deploy mobile security units or escorts in high‑risk corridors.
- Coordinate with rail operators and local authorities to speed incident response.
2. Truck cargo
Security risks
- Hijackings and armed robberies remain the top threat on major highways.
- Criminal groups impersonate legitimate carriers or set up fake checkpoints.
- Organized theft groups divert loads through fraudulent documentation or identity spoofing.
- Recent unrest shows how quickly key routes can become compromised.
Recommended precautions and mitigations
- Apply a layered “Swiss cheese” security strategy, beginning with rigorous pre‑trip vetting of drivers, partners, and sealed loads.
- Enforce no‑stop policies through high‑risk zones and maintain real‑time GPS tracking with geofenced routes.
- Use panic alarms, remote immobilizers, and escalation protocols.
- For high‑value cargo, deploy escorts or convoy-style movements.
- Train drivers on emergency procedures and ensure they have access to 24/7 response teams.
3. Facilities and warehouses
Security risks
- Facilities face both external attacks (armed break‑ins) and internal collusion risks.
- Gangs may bribe employees for access or operational intelligence.
- Sites in volatile regions can be impacted by unrest, extortion attempts, or proximity to cartel activity.
Recommended precautions and mitigations
- Strengthen perimeter security with controlled access gates, fencing, closed-circuit television (CCTV), alarm systems, and onsite guards when required.
- Enforce strict access controls, visitor validation, and background checks for employees and contractors.
- Monitor for insider threats through audits, inventory checks, and seal‑log reconciliation.
- Maintain a crisis plan that includes facility lockdown procedures and personnel evacuation.
- Conduct site‑specific risk assessments in partnership with local law enforcement or security advisors.
“The best time to implement layered freight security was before your first shipment—the second-best time is now.” - Tony Pelli, Global Practice Director, Security & Resilience
Supply chain resilience in Mexico
Stay closely informed on local threat conditions; integrate your logistics, security, and business teams; and don’t hesitate to pause or reroute shipments when warning signs flare up. Nearshoring in Mexico and across Latin America isn’t something you can protect with a wait‑and‑see approach anymore. Security must be part of the plan from day one and built into every link of the operation. The costs of delays and precautions are trivial compared to the potential losses, and lives, at stake.
