GUANAJUATO, Mexico – In a shocking revelation, the federal Undersecretary of Public Security, Luis Rodríguez Bucio, disclosed that forty police officers have been killed in Guanajuato in the first half of 2024. Presenting a comprehensive report on crimes against uniformed officers in the state, Rodríguez Bucio underscored the alarming violence plaguing Guanajuato, which has been the most violent state in Mexico with the highest number of murders in recent years.
During a morning press conference hosted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Rodríguez Bucio highlighted that out of the 40 homicides, 18 were committed in the municipality of Celaya. Furthermore, 28 police officers were injured in attacks, most of which were carried out by organized crime groups, with Celaya witnessing 15 of these violent incidents.
Rodríguez Bucio reported that the 68 attacks against police officers from January to July 2024 occurred across 17 of the state’s 46 municipalities. However, Celaya alone accounted for 48.5 percent of these cases. The second-highest number of incidents was recorded in Irapuato, where four murders took place, while Salamanca experienced five injuries and two fatalities among police officers.
The data presented by the Undersecretary detailed the monthly distribution of these homicides. February was the deadliest month, with 13 police officers killed. January followed with six fatalities, while March saw three deaths. April reported eight, May had four, June saw two, and there have been four killings so far in July.
A particularly disturbing aspect of these attacks is that of the 40 police officers murdered, 13 were not carrying firearms at the time of the attack, and seven were killed on their day off. This indicates a troubling trend of targeting off-duty officers, raising concerns about the personal safety of law enforcement personnel even outside their working hours.
Following the Undersecretary’s report, President López Obrador addressed the factors contributing to the surge in violence in Guanajuato. He pointed out that the increase in drug use within the state has been a significant factor triggering violence and murders. The President mentioned that his administration has conducted a study on this situation, which will be presented within the next one or two weeks.
“How is it possible that in a state that has good economic growth, where many investments have arrived, that has employment, although, I emphasize, poorly paid, in maquilas, but employment nonetheless, there are so many homicides? More than in Jalisco, more than in Michoacán, more than in Sinaloa,” President López Obrador remarked.
He further elaborated on the conclusion drawn from the study, stating, “There is more drug use, and this leads to drug dealing and conflicts over clients. What happened? Why did Guanajuato become one of the states with the highest consumption? Because drug trafficking is one thing and consumption is another.”
The President’s remarks underscore the complex interplay between economic conditions, drug consumption, and organized crime in fueling the violence in Guanajuato. The state’s economic growth and investment influx contrast starkly with the precarious security situation, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced.