At the end of 2024, an increase in extortions was detected in the State of Mexico, leading authorities to take measures to reinforce security in municipalities. In Ecatepec, the most populated municipality in Edomex, 51 criminal gangs involved in various crimes such as extortion, drug dealing, homicides, and robbery with violence were identified. This is why the local government recently presented the Comprehensive Public Security Plan, which will receive support from state and federal governments, primarily from the Secretariat of the Navy.
In a press conference, Edgar Antonio Machado Peña, commissioner of Citizen Security and Municipal Transit, pointed out that the most critical points regarding insecurity and violence, such as robberies and intentional homicides, have been identified. For this reason, specific actions will be carried out in the 10 colonies considered the most dangerous in Ecatepec, including Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Jardines de Morelos, Santa María Chiconautla, Hank González, Santa Clara, and others.
Ecatepec was divided into seven regions and 71 quadrants, a scheme that was considered inefficient. From now on, it will operate in seven zones, 27 sectors, 230 quadrants, and 13,000 neighborhood networks. The use of technology within the corporation will be promoted, and collaboration between the population, local authorities, and the federal government will be strengthened. Furthermore, Claudia Sheinbaum's security strategy includes the arrival of 100 elements from the Secretariat of the Navy to assist in these efforts.
Azucena Cisneros Coss, mayor of Ecatepec, emphasized that this municipality is a priority for President Claudia Sheinbaum, so various actions within the security plan already in motion will be implemented. Among the highlighted measures are the presence of community policing, the installation of 10,000 neighborhood alarms, training and equipping police officers, the incorporation of 3,000 new surveillance cameras, and aerial surveillance using drones.
On the other hand, programs to address youth, combat addictions, relocate police elements in high-crime areas, strengthen police infrastructure, and implement a mobile application for immediate response with a panic button linked to C4 will be carried out. Additionally, inspection operations in public transport will be conducted to ensure passenger safety.
Moreover, the security model used in the municipality of Nezahualcóyotl will be applied, which promotes citizen participation, trust in the police, and the redesign of strategies focusing on specific areas. During a working meeting, the Secretary General of Government, Horacio Duarte Olivares, reported that the municipalities with the highest number of complaints are Toluca, Ecatepec, and Naucalpan, and that a former security member posing as a police officer has been arrested.
Furthermore, the governor of the State of Mexico, Delfina Gómez, led the Coordination Table for Peacebuilding, where a 17.9% decrease in femicides during 2024 was highlighted, recording the lowest figure since 2018. Emphasis was placed on the "Violet Operation," which has contributed to providing greater protection for girls, adolescents, and women in the state in cases of gender-based violence. Delfina Gómez Álvarez shared on her social networks: "At the Coordination Table for Peacebuilding, we review strategies to guarantee Mexicans a State of Mexico where they can feel safe."
