President Claudia Sheinbaum orders intensified National Guard investigations and increased patrols on key highways after the armed robbery of Los Ángeles Azules, calling highway theft a “persistent challenge.”
In response to a brazen armed robbery targeting the acclaimed cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules, President Claudia Sheinbaum has directed the National Guard to redouble efforts against highway crime. Speaking at her daily morning briefing on May 13, 2025, the president acknowledged that highway thefts continue to plague motorists and commercial traffic along vital corridors connecting Mexico City with Veracruz and Oaxaca.
“Highway robberies remain a persistent challenge for our country’s transportation network,” Sheinbaum said, calling the recent attack on Los Ángeles Azules—who were en route to a concert in Veracruz—“unacceptable.” She confirmed that members of the band were unharmed but described the incident as “a stark reminder that no traveler is truly safe unless we take immediate, coordinated action.”
Under the president’s orders, the National Guard will undertake intensified follow-up investigations into the armed robbery, deploying specialized investigative units alongside additional patrols. Federal security sources indicated that the Guard will establish mobile checkpoints and increase aerial reconnaissance over stretches of the Mexico–Veracruz highway, as well as the Oaxaca–Mexico City route, both notorious for banditry.
Sheinbaum emphasized that tackling highway crime requires collaboration between federal, state, and municipal authorities. She called on the governors of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and the State of Mexico to convene regular interagency meetings. “We must share intelligence, streamline communication, and ensure that no criminal network moves freely from one jurisdiction to another,” she stated.
Local officials welcomed the president’s announcement. Veracruz Governor Ana Lilia López praised the decision to bolster patrols, noting that rural stretches of highway have seen a surge in well-armed groups targeting buses, trucks, and private vehicles. “Our citizens deserve safe travel,” López said. “These measures will help restore public confidence and protect livelihoods dependent on road transport.”
The National Guard’s increased presence aims not only to react to incidents but to deter criminal elements through visible enforcement and rapid response. Commanders plan to rotate units between strategic locations, ensuring continuous coverage and minimizing predictable patterns that criminals could exploit.
Analysts caution, however, that long-term success hinges on addressing underlying socio-economic factors. They point to poverty and lack of opportunities in rural regions as drivers of highway crime. While enhanced security operations can yield immediate results, parallel initiatives—such as community development programs and local policing reforms—may be necessary to sustain reductions in theft and violence.
For Los Ángeles Azules, the ordeal has underscored the hazards faced by artists and everyday commuters alike. The band’s management issued a statement thanking the authorities for their swift support and urging other travelers to remain vigilant. As the National Guard ramps up operations, all eyes will be on the highways to see whether these interventions can finally turn the tide against a criminal scourge that has for too long haunted Mexico’s roads.
