Israel "El Mayo" Zambada's message to kids is spelled out in explicit detail in a new "mentorship initiative." (This image was generated using AI tools)
Following a federal courtroom speech in which he urged young people to avoid his life path, former Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada announced Thursday the launch of a new youth mentorship initiative aimed at breaking down, in meticulous detail, the exact operational blueprint that allowed him to evade law enforcement for nearly seven decades.
Titled “Don’t Do What I Did: A 68-Year Step-by-Step Case Study,” the initiative is designed to steer teenagers away from organized crime by offering an exhaustive, multi-volume curriculum detailing logistics, supply chain management, high-level corruption strategies and long-term asset diversification, so that young attendees know precisely which sophisticated mechanisms to avoid.
There are only two ultimate outcomes to a life of crime, emphasizes “El Mayo”: prison and death. However, decades of wealth and freedom from societal restrictions of any kind are also possible along the way, he points out. (Cuartoscuro)
“Violence only leads to two places: prison or death,” Zambada said in a statement released through his legal team, emphasizing that his life serves as a stark warning. “To ensure our youth do not make the same mistakes, my curriculum will thoroughly examine how to build a transnational logistics network across four continents without using a cell phone until approximately 2018. It is vital that kids understand the terrifying burden of managing thousands of decentralized distribution nodes, so they never feel tempted to attempt it themselves.”
Organizers confirmed the seminar series will feature interactive workshops where participants are shown maps of remote airstrips and hidden mountain labs, accompanied by stern lectures on why establishing such complex infrastructure represents a tragic waste of potential. Attendees will also receive a 400-page workbook outlining the specific, highly effective techniques used to maintain regional monopolies, accompanied by large red text reading “DO NOT ATTEMPT” across every page.
Policy analysts have noted the uniquely thorough approach of the cautionary campaign, which treats 68 years of criminal supremacy not as a heroic narrative, but as an overwhelming administrative nightmare that no teenager should ever want to inherit.
“It is a powerful message,” said Dr. Fernando Reyes, a senior researcher in public safety policy. “By spending eight hours a day explaining the exact mechanics of money laundering through agricultural front companies and international trade finance, Zambada is sending a clear signal: running an illicit global conglomerate involves far too much paperwork, supply chain volatility and court-mandated restitution to ever be considered a viable career path.”
At press time, federal officials confirmed that while the curriculum’s moral message was universally praised, the accompanying 12-disc masterclass video set had already been flagged for containing far too many practical tips on customs evasion.
Earlier this month, environmental officials in the west-central state of Jalisco seized 105 queen ants hidden inside plastic toys and labeled as “collectible figures” in a shipment bound for Southeast Asia, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) said.
A package flagged as suspicious at a parcel delivery business near Guadalajara, Jalisco, turned out to contain ant-bearing test tubes hidden inside children’s toys. (Profepa)
The discovery was made July 9 after a parcel company flagged a suspicious package in El Salto, Jalisco, outside Guadalajara. The package was addressed to Laos, a landlocked country between Vietnam and Thailand.
Inside, inspectors found the insects sealed in individual test tubes and concealed within toy figures, including one containing 22 tubes and another with 83. Each small tube appeared to contain cotton and moisture, the standard way to house queen ants in test tubes.
Experts determined that it was not feasible to keep so many ants alive in that manner because of their biological needs.
The seized ants belong to the genus Pogonomyrmex and are commonly known as harvester ants. They are native to Mexico and play a role in seed dispersal and soil health in arid ecosystems.
The seized ants fit into a growing niche hobby in Europe and Asia, where buyers use queen ants to stock formicariums, specialized terrariums that house and display ant colonies. Owners watch the ants build tunnels, haul seeds and care for larvae.
The ant farms are promoted as do-it-yourself ecosystems built around a single fertilized queen, which can eventually produce thousands of workers.
Collectors and hobbyists sometimes pay 200 to 400 pesos (US $11 to $22) for a queen ant online, while more exotic ants can fetch up to 1,200 pesos (US $68), according to the newspaper El Sol de México.
Despite the enforcement action in Jalisco, no arrests have been reported so far.
“Profepa will follow up on the corresponding administrative procedure,” the agency stated, adding that it will continue to fight illegal wildlife trafficking through surveillance and other means.
Oaxaca journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar. (via Infobae)
Journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva was shot and killed Wednesday in San Pablo Etla, a suburb of Oaxaca city, the second media figure slain in Mexico in less than a week.
Leyva, a former executive producer of the Oaxacan Radio and Television Corporation, was attacked while eating breakfast at a street food stand. The gunmen escaped on a motorcycle.
Leyva was buried on Thursday in Oaxaca City. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal / Cuartoscuro.com)
The 60-year-old was well-known for his column “El zumbido de moscardón” (“The buzzing of a bumblebee”), in which he critically analyzed political life and corruption in the state of Oaxaca.
Hours after his murder, state prosecutors said video intelligence had already been uncovered from local CCTV. On Thursday, the Federal Attorney General’s Office said it would take over the investigation at the request of Oaxaca authorities, assigning it to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Human Rights.
As of noon Thursday, authorities had not cited a motive for the murder nor reported any arrests.
Leyva published his final article on Tuesday night, addressing insecurity in the state and the alleged interference of organized crime in local economies and politics.
In this text, he discussed the violence in Oaxaca in the context of the Guelaguetza, calling the annual Indigenous cultural festival a failure due to government mismanagement and security issues.
Just over a year ago, Leyva filed a formal complaint with the state Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office about receiving death threats. He linked these threats to the public smear campaign he faced from regular criticism lobbed at him by Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara during the latter’s daily press conferences.
For his part, Governor Jara condemned Wednesday’s attack, saying “[Leyva] was a journalist critical of our government (…) but no difference with the practice of journalism can ever justify an act of violence.”
📣 ARTICLE 19 condena el asesinato del periodista Alejandro Leyva Aguilar, exdirector de la Corporación Oaxaqueña de Radio y Televisión (CORTV), autor de la columna El Zumbido del Moscardón, ocurrido esta mañana, en el municipio de San Pablo Etlan, #OaxacaDeJuárez
Reuters news agency described Mexico as “one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists outside active war zones,” adding that “the vast majority of crimes against journalists go unpunished.”
Proyecto LAM, a plant nursery in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, is the organizer of an annual "Night of the Bats" celebration. (Proyecto LAM)
On June 20, as Pride parades filled the streets, the team at Proyecto LAM was preparing for their annual “Noche de los Murciélagos” (“Night of the Bats”).
Proyecto LAM is a vibrant plant nursery in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, founded in 2018 by Graciela Ángeles and her family, who produce Real Minero. Graciela explains that originally, the project focused on studying the agave plant; then “as a side effect, the need arose to study its pollinators, especially the bats.”
Guests are invited for a sunset walk through the garden before a series of presentations, dinner and mezcal.
The underrated importance of bats
Each year, they invite specialists to speak on the garden’s themes: its plants, pests and pollinators. This year, Irene Martínez Velasco spoke about the genetics of agave before Rosario Aceves Íñiguez, a biologist from Guadalajara, led an introduction to bats. She discussed the ecological significance and diversity of bats before emphasizing some of the challenges faced by bat populations.
Rosario says she considers bats to be one of the most misunderstood groups of mammals, “despite also being among the most fascinating, interesting and wonderful.”
Bats play a fundamental ecological role in the maintenance and functioning of ecosystems, yet they remain one of the most undervalued groups of mammals. In Mexico, where agave plays an iconic role, bats are invaluable. Nectar-feeding bats and agaves share a close ecological relationship where bats act as primary pollinators. Preserving this bond is vital for agave biodiversity and the survival of endangered bat species.
Bats’ role in agave propagation
Graciela says that “declines in bat populations threaten the survival of the agaves, particularly those propagated solely through seeds.” Agave spirits producers can support bat populations by allowing a percentage of agaves to flower and go to seed to support nectar-feeding bats. “Bat Friendly” is a certification that promotes conservation and encourages consumer participation in tequila and mezcal, while initiatives such as the one noted above encourage the producers of these liquors to adopt sustainable practices.
However, fear surrounding bats follows this unfairly maligned mammal. Myths of blood-sucking vampires and perceptions like dirty “flying rats” plague bats and those trying to help them. Ongoing stigma and their nocturnal behaviors make bats difficult to study.
Studying bats has its challenges, but the importance of these animals to the local ecology and economy makes it worth the effort. (Proyecto LAM)
Studying bats also has significant challenges. Rosario explains that “national insecurity and forced disappearances hinder field research.” She says fieldwork using capture methods has become more complicated because work is done at night, which implies greater risk. “There has been a shift towards other techniques that do not require capture, but in projects where it is possible to record or work with bats, many studies and research projects require having the specimens in hand.”
Habitat loss and other challenges for bat populations
A major concern is habitat loss. Rosario described how this reduces the number of places where bats can roost and limits food sources. Monocrops, like the agave plants used for tequila, with significant levels of pesticides, are also hurting bat populations.
Disease is also having a significant impact, in particular “white-nose syndrome,” a fungal disease that primarily affects cave-dwelling bats. According to Rosario, “over the last decade, this has led to the deaths of millions of individuals in various regions of the world.” In Oaxaca alone, it is suspected of causing a drastic decline in bat populations.
Rosario’s concerns about bat populations were echoed by Graciela. She informed the group that over the past three years, the number of bats they have found during these activities has plummeted. “During the first capture in 2018, there were several hundred bats. Last year, we only managed to capture three bats. This year, 15 were captured.”
Fortunately, there are endeavors to conserve bat populations. Conservation efforts prioritize what Graciela describes as “citizen science,” which involves making scientific data accessible to the public and facilitating knowledge sharing between farmers, producers and academics. Events like the “Noche de los Murciélagos” bring the public closer to science through workshops, talks and bat-monitoring demonstrations. These efforts help to foster awareness of the bat-agave connection.
Teaching kids (and adults) about the beauty of bats
This year, they held a contest with students from the middle school in Santa Catarina Minas to make artwork about bats. They awarded certificates and sketchbooks to the winners. For Graciela, this is a way to “influence these young people to develop their creative skills, whether through writing or drawing, and at the same time bring them into a scientific activity.” She says, “I think one of the most important things is that this year we had so many children visit. It’s something beautiful that young people are interested in science.”
“The Night of the Bats” is a reminder of the importance of bats, without which there would be no mezcal, a staple of Oaxaca’s economy. (Proyecto LAM)
Rosario says that the public can contribute by “learning about the ecological importance of bats, avoiding the destruction of their roosts, promoting their conservation and supporting initiatives and products that encourage practices friendly to these species.”
During the evening, Rosario and the team from Proyecto LAM used techniques like “mist-netting” to capture and identify species. They recorded data on the bat’s weight, sex and size, which helps document the health and presence of local populations over time. It was fascinating to watch them at work.
‘Intrepid pollinators’ released into the night
Once they had made their assessments, the bats were fed some sugar water before being released back into the wild. Rosario held each bat, and there was a brief pause before they took off into the night. It was surprisingly moving to see these fragile animals spread their wings as they realized they were free again.
Hopefully, events like “Noche de los Murciélagos” will continue to inspire people to learn about bats. Not as stigmatized creatures of the night, but as the intrepid pollinators that help maintain our diverse and beautiful ecosystem. As Graciela warns, without bats, we won’t have agave — or mezcal!
Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just some of the media outlets she has worked with include Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find out more about her work at her website or visit her on social media on Instagram or on Facebook.
Spectators wave flags at a 2022 Mexican Independence Day parade in New York City. (Shutterstock)
Mexicans are the largest immigrant group in the United States, but their numbers declined by more than 500,000 between 2007 and 2024, according to a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that specializes in migration issues.
In a report published last week, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) said that during “the past four and a half decades, the size of the Mexican-born population increased fivefold, from 2.2 million in 1980 to an estimated 11.1 million in 2024.”
There are many fewer Mexican immigrants in the U.S. now than there used to be.
— MigrationPolicy Inst (@MigrationPolicy) July 16, 2026
“However,” the think tank added, “the number has declined slightly, from a peak of more than 11.7 million in 2007.”
Still, per the 2024 estimate, Mexicans accounted for 22% of the total U.S. immigrant population in 2024, which was 50.2 million, according to MPI.
The exact numbers in the MPI report showed that the number of Mexican-born U.S. residents fell by 567,000 between 2007 and 2024.
The think tank said that “future declines in the Mexican immigrant population may accelerate due to heightened immigration enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border and within the U.S. interior,” where the Trump administration is carrying out an aggressive deportation agenda.
“Authorities’ encounters of migrants of all nationalities crossing the southern border without authorization fell to about 238,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2025 — the lowest level in 55 years and a sharp departure from post-2021 patterns in which annual encounters consistently exceeded 1 million,” MPI said.
“Mexicans represented 47 percent of those FY 2025 unauthorized crossings, epitomizing the significant diversification in flows arriving at the border since the early 2000s, before which Mexican crossings dominated.”
Among the Mexican-born population of the United States, around one-third to one-half are potentially vulnerable to deportation. In a 2024 report, BBVA research put the number of Mexicans in the U.S. at 12 million. The Spanish bank’s research division said that 4.1 million of that number were undocumented.
However, in its report, MPI said it estimated that “about 5.5 million unauthorized immigrants were from Mexico as of mid-2023.”
That number is just under 50% of the 11.1 million Mexican-born U.S. residents in 2024, per MPI’s numbers.
Citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, MPI said that “an estimated 40.5 million U.S. residents traced their ancestry or heritage to Mexico.” That includes people born in Mexico and people born in the U.S. or elsewhere, MPI said.
A profile of Mexicans in the US
MPI said that Mexican immigrants in the United States “are concentrated in a handful of states and metropolitan areas.”
It said that between 2020 and 2024, 70% of all Mexicans who lived in the U.S. were concentrated in five states: California (35%); Texas (22%); Illinois (6%); Arizona (5%); and Florida (2%).
“During the same period, close to 35 percent of Mexican immigrants lived in one of five greater metropolitan areas: Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Riverside,” MPI said.
The think tank also said that Mexican immigrants in the U.S. “have relatively low average educational attainment and income but a high labor-force participation rate and are especially likely to be of working age.”
MPI said that in 2024:
The median age of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. was 47, “which equaled that of the overall foreign-born population but was higher than that of the U.S. born (37).”
Just 10% of Mexican immigrant adults (ages 25 and older) held a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 36% of all immigrants and 37% of the U.S.-born population.
49% of Mexican immigrant adults lacked a high school diploma.
About 65% of Mexican immigrants aged 5 and older reported speaking English less than “very well,” compared to 47% of all immigrants.
Mexican immigrants had a civilian labor-force participation rate of 68%, equal to that of the overall foreign-born population and higher than the U.S.-born population (63%).
Mexican immigrants with jobs were primarily working in services (26%), followed by natural resources, construction, and maintenance (25%) and production, transport and material moving (20%).
Mexican immigrants had a median household income of US $68,700, below the median incomes of immigrant households overall ($82,400) and U.S.-born-led households ($81,400).
Approximately 16% of Mexican immigrants were living in poverty, slightly higher than rates for the overall foreign-born population (14%) and the U.S.-born population (12%).
Around 34% of Mexican immigrants were U.S. citizens, compared to 51% of immigrants overall, while many more Mexicans were lawful permanent residents of the United States.
About 77% of Mexicans arrived in the United States prior to 2010, “making this a long-settled population.”
At her Thursday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that her sister has lived in the United States for more than 30 years.
“As is the case with my family, I think all Mexicans have a close or distant relative who lives in the United States,” she said.
“That link” between Mexico and the United States “will never be broken,” Sheinbaum added.
Tomatoes contributed the most to containing inflation, with a bi-weekly price reduction of 13.18%,(Victoria Valtierra / Cuartoscuro.com)
Inflation in Mexico moderated again during the first half of July — the eighth consecutive 15-day period in which the rate declined — settling close to the Bank of Mexico’s target.
The national statistics institute INEGI on Thursday reported that the National Consumer Price Index rose 0.07% compared to the second half of June, bringing the annual headline inflation rate to 3.10%. This is the lowest for any quincena, as the half-month period is known, since the second half of December 2020.
The graphic from Mexico’s national statistics institute, titled Variation of the National Consumer Price Index, shows how much inflation rose during the first two weeks of July for each of the last 10 years. (INEGI)
The data reflected a slowdown compared to the 3.37% annual rate recorded for the month of June. It also compared favorably on an annual basis. During the first quincena of July 2025, the bi-weekly inflation rate was 0.15% and the annual rate was 3.55%.
INEGI found that the smaller price increase in early July was mainly related to the behavior of the non-core component, which includes volatile prices such as agricultural products, energy and government-regulated tariffs.
This index decreased by 0.23% during the quincena and registered a growth of just 0.21% compared to the same period last year.
Prices for agricultural products fell 0.57% biweekly and accumulated a year-on-year drop of 3.53%. Within this group, fruits and vegetables decreased 1.50% compared to the second half of June.
Tomatoes contributed the most to containing inflation, with a bi-weekly price reduction of 13.18%, while serrano peppers (5.17%), tomatillos (3.24%) and avocados (2.59%) also saw price decreases.
Core inflation, which excludes the most volatile food and fuel prices and is closely monitored by the central bank as a better indicator of the medium-term price trajectory, rose slightly to 3.95% year-on-year, up from 3.94% in June.
Within this component — which increased by 0.16% during the first half of July — goods prices rose by 3.52% annually, while services became 4.36% more expensive.
Processed foods, beverages and tobacco registered an annual inflation of 4.89%; tuition fees increased 5.95%, while the remaining services (restaurants, medical consultations, telephone and tourist activities) increased by 4.83%.
With this latest reading, consumer prices have moderated for eight consecutive fortnights, including four quincenas that hit the central bank’s inflation target of between 3 and 4%.
After its June 24-25 monetary policy meeting, in which it left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.50%, the central bank indicated that it will await clearer signs that inflation is converging steadily toward the target.
Mexico has filed 20 complaints over the deaths of citizens in ICE custody or during ICE operations. (Shutterstock)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) reported on Wednesday that the Mexican government last week filed a total of 20 complaints with prosecutor’s offices in the U.S. regarding the deaths of Mexican citizens in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or during ICE operations.
The federal government first announced on July 9 that it would file criminal complaints in connection with the deaths of 17 Mexicans, 14 of whom died in ICE detention centers since May 2025 and three of whom died during ICE operations.
The Mexican government announced its intention to take legal action after the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7. (LULAC Institute via GoFundMe)
President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday, July 13, that the complaints would be filed that day. Her administration is seeking thorough investigations into the deaths of all Mexicans who have died under ICE custody or in ICE operations.
In an “information note” published on Wednesday, the SRE said that on July 13, Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, Roberto Lazzeri, filed 20 complaints “in the jurisdictions where the deaths occurred,” namely Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas.
The ministry said that eight complaints were filed with state prosecutors’ offices and 12 were filed with county prosecutors’ offices.
The SRE also said that on July 14, “the Mexican Embassy in the United States forwarded to the Department of Justice, through the Department of State, the complaint submitted by the Attorney General of Mexico regarding the 17 cases, along with a formal request to open the corresponding investigations and to provide an update on their progress.”
The deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody and ICE operations — including that of an 18th Mexican who was hit by a truck in Florida last week while running away from ICE officers — have occurred as the Trump administration pursues an aggressive deportation agenda. On numerous occasions, Sheinbaum has expressed her opposition to that agenda, and last week she said she disagreed with U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for continued immigration traffic stops.
“If there is a person who committed a crime, he or she must be pursued. But migration in itself shouldn’t be criminalized,” Sheinbaum said last Thursday.
Lazzeri meets with DHS and ICE officials
In its release on Wednesday, the SRE also reported that in meetings with officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE last week, Lazzeri “conveyed the Mexican government’s concerns about conditions in … [ICE] detention centers, including those operated by private companies.”
The ambassador, who only recently began his appointment in the U.S., also “requested clarification on each case” of deaths of Mexicans in the detention centers, the SRE said.
After the death of Alejandro Cabrera Clemente in an ICE detention center in April, Sheinbaum said she had instructed staff in Mexican consulates in the U.S. to visit ICE detention centers on a daily basis to check on the welfare of detained Mexicans.
“They were visiting them once a week, but now I asked them to visit every day,” she said.
The Mexican government has asserted that poor conditions in detention centers in the United States and a lack of medical care for people in ICE custody have caused or at least contributed to the deaths of Mexicans.
Lazzeri also met last week with Michael Kozak, a senior official with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, a division of the U.S. Department of State.
Western Hemisphere Affairs Senior Bureau Official Michael Kozak met Mexican Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri today in Washington. SBO Kozak returned Mexico’s letters that purport to direct the actions of U.S. Government personnel operating in U.S. sovereign territory. SBO Kozak also…
— Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (@WHAAsstSecty) July 17, 2026
After the July 17 meeting, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said on social media that “Kozak returned Mexico’s letters that purport to direct the actions of U.S. Government personnel operating in U.S. sovereign territory.”
“SBO Kozak also recommended Mexico share its concerns [regarding the deaths of Mexicans in the U.S.] via diplomatic channels as is customary,” the post added.
Mexico seeks assistance from UN high commissioner for human rights
The SRE said that on July 14, Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco sent a letter to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk “informing him of the events” — i.e., the deaths of Mexicans under ICE custody and in ICE operations.
In the letter, Velasco asked Türk to “consider gathering information through requests for clarification from the United States, analyze their compatibility with international human rights instruments, and make technical recommendations to help prevent incidents of this kind.”
In late June, the high commissioner “urged prompt action to prevent further loss of life in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and called for independent investigations into all deaths under ICE custody,” according to a UN press release.
The newest phase of passenger railway development will build on recently completed routes like the Buenavista-AIFA Interurban Train, pictured. (SICT)
The Mexican government has launched the second construction phase of its ambitious passenger rail program, a phase that will connect central Mexico via high-speed trains to Saltillo to the north and to the Pacific coast to the west, as well as advance connections between El Bajío cities such as Querétaro, San Luis Potosi and San Miguel de Allende.
Speaking at the 25th National Meeting on Highway Engineering in Morelia, Michoacán, Efraín Deschamps Gutiérrez de Velasco, head of works at the Agency for Trains and Integrated Public Transportation (Attrapi), explained that the engineering and demand studies necessary for the next stage have been completed.
“We want to consolidate a modern rail system,” Deschamps said.
The second phase includes work on the Irapuato-León and León-Guadalajara sections, which will be built by the Felipe Ángeles Engineering Group – the same group responsible for the Felipe Ángeles International Airport near Mexico City.
Attrapi has also launched the international tender process needed to inject cost-saving competition into the selection of a contractor for the first section of the Querétaro-San Luis Potosí route, which includes the 68-kilometer stretch between Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende.
Construction for this section is expected to begin on Sept. 24, according to business intelligence platform Bnamericas.
Meanwhile, bidding for the northbound San Luis Potosí-Saltillo section will take place in stages between June and September, while the Mazatlán-Los Mochis section remains in the pre-investment study phase with no authorized start date for construction.
Finally, the Querétaro-San Luis Potosí route is part of the eventual Mexico City-Nuevo Laredo corridor planned for completion in future phases.
A third phase will expand high-speed rail service along 1,100 kilometers of the Pacific corridor, with routes linking Guadalajara, Tepic, Mazatlán, Los Mochis, Guaymas and Hermosillo. Plans also include a potential fourth-phase project extending this western network north to Nogales on the United States border.
According to Attrapi, the new rail lines are expected to operate at speeds of between 160 and 200 kilometers per hour and will be dedicated exclusively to passenger service, with no level crossings or interaction with freight trains.
Oxxo operates 24,455 stores across Mexico and serves more than 13 million customers every day. (Shutterstock)
“A la vuelta de tu vida.”
Loosely translated, this phrase — the slogan of Mexican convenience store chain Oxxo — means “On the corner of your life.”
That is not much of an exaggeration: Oxxo stores are truly ubiquitous in Mexico.
For good or for bad, I live directly opposite one in Mexico City. There is another Oxxo store about two minutes’ walk from my front door if I want a little more exercise before I open my packet of chips or caguama.
As a news outlet focused on Mexico, Mexico News Daily has naturally reported quite extensively on Oxxo.
Over the years, Oxxo’s convenience store franchises have become ubiquitous across Mexico. (Shutterstock)
The list goes on.
In this “Mexico in Numbers” article, we’ll take a look at some key Oxxo numbers, including one that is the answer to a question you may have asked yourself or someone else: Exactly how many Oxxos are there in Mexico?
The first Oxxo store — created by the Cuauhtémoc Brewery — opened in the northern city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, in 1978. Therefore, Oxxo celebrates its 48th birthday this year.
There will no doubt be significant celebrations (and promotions) when Oxxo reaches the half-century milestone in 2028.
How many Oxxo stores are there?
As of March 31, 2026, Oxxo had 24,455 stores in Mexico, an annual increase of 3.8%.
Oxxo has stores in all 32 federal entities in Mexico. In addition, there are Oxxo stores in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and the United States.
The chain has expanded rapidly this century. In 2000, there were fewer than 2,000 Oxxo stores, according to the website Latinometrics.
Four other states had more than 1,000 Oxxo stores at the end of last year:
Mexico City: 2,074
México state: 1,325
Baja California: 1,144
Jalisco: 1,075
On average, how many new Oxxo stores open per day?
The number of Oxxo stores in Mexico increased by 888 in the 12 months to March 31, 2026.
Therefore, the number of Oxxo stores in Mexico increased by 2.43 per day in the period. This accounts for both the opening of new stores and any closures.
How many products are available in an Oxxo store?
Oxxo sells “more than 2,500 products in all stores, ranging from chewing gum to cell phones,” according to the chain.
What is the gender makeup of the Oxxo workforce?
Have you noticed more women than men working in Oxxo stores?
According to the chain, six of every 10 Oxxo workers are women.
Oxxo said in 2023 that more than 2,800 of its employees were seniors, 900 had a disability and over 600 were refugees or immigrants.
How many people go to Oxxo on a daily basis?
Every day, Oxxo serves more than 13 million customers, according to the chain. In addition to buying snacks, beverages and household items, Oxxo customers can access services such as the withdrawal of cash and payment of bills.
On average, a customer spent 61.2 (US $3.50) pesos during a visit to Oxxo in the first quarter of 2026, an annual increase of 6.6%.
How much money does Oxxo make?
In the first quarter of 2026, Oxxo México had total revenue of 74.24 billion pesos (US $4.27 billion), an annual increase of 8.3%.
Profits in the same period were just under 5.63 billion pesos ($323.27 million), an annual increase of 20.9%.
How close is too close?
You’ve probably seen Oxxo stores in close proximity to each other.
But did you know that in the northern border city of Tijuana, one Oxxo store sits right on top of another?
According to Oxxo, each store serves a different residential area of Tijuana.
The numbers here? Two-in-one.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
President Sheinbaum announced the seven U.S.-based semi-finalists of the singing competition México canta at her Thursday press conference. (Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
📍Mañanera focuses on México canta: President Sheinbaum’s Thursday press conference centered on the second edition of México canta, a binational singing competition promoting peace and rejecting the glorification of cartel violence in music.
🎤 16,000+ auditioned for second edition: Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza said more than 16,000 young people — 10,528 from Mexico and 5,761 from the U.S. — took part in initial auditions, calling the response “extraordinary.”
🌟 14 semi-finalists selected: The Mexican Music Council picked seven U.S.-based and seven Mexico-based semi-finalists. The seven U.S. artists, from California, Arizona, Colorado, New York, Oregon and Illinois, performed at today’s mañanera; the Mexican finalists will be announced next week.
🏆 Semi-finals set for L.A. and Mazatlán: Curiel announced the semi-finals will be held Aug. 23 at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles and Aug. 31 at the Ángela Peralta Theater in Mazatlán, with three winners ultimately earning recording contracts via public vote.
🤝 Sheinbaum cuts mañanera short for Greer meeting: Sheinbaum ended her press conference early to prepare for a 10 a.m. meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, coming three weeks after Greer said Washington would not renew the USMCA in its current form.
💭 Sheinbaum on México canta’s impact: Asked to quantify the competition’s effect on youth violence, Sheinbaum said it’s hard to measure but described a “virtuous circle” where participants influence friends and family, adding: “If we only influenced one person, it would be worth it.”
Why today’s mañanera matters
Today’s mañanera focused on the México canta (Mexico Sings) binational music competition, whose second edition is underway.
Sponsored by the federal government, the competition aims to promote peace, combat addiction and foster a culture that rejects the glorification of violence.
Rosalba Valdez of Chicago, one of seven U.S. semi-finalists, performs at Thursday’s presidential press conference. (Presidencia)
The competition, which is open to young Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, has one overriding rule: Songs that glorify the lives of cartels, violence or drug trafficking are not allowed.
On Thursday morning, President Claudia Sheinbaum was accompanied at her press conference by Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza, seven México canta participants from the United States and the Mexican singer and rapper known as El Bogueto (real name Armando Antonio Toledo Rosas).
The mañanera was important as it underscored the government’s commitment to steering young people away from a life of crime and violence. The México canta competition is, in effect, part of the government’s strategy to address the root causes of crime.
The main element of the strategy is the provision of work and education opportunities for young people, especially those who may be vulnerable to recruitment by criminal organizations.
More than 16,000 participants in second edition of México canta
Curiel told reporters that more than 16,000 young people — 10,528 from Mexico and 5,761 from the U.S. — participated in the initial auditions for the second edition of México canta.
The culture minister described the response to the call to participate in the competition as “extraordinary.”
Curiel announced that 14 semi-finalists had been selected by the Mexican Music Council — seven from the United States and seven from Mexico. The seven U.S.-based artists were present at today’s mañanera, while the seven Mexican semi-finalists are to be announced next week.
President Sheinbaum announced the seven U.S.-based semi-finalists on Thursday, with the Mexico-based participants set to be announced next week. (Presidencia)
The seven U.S.-based semi-finalists include four women and three men from six different states: California, Arizona, Colorado, New York, Oregon and Illinois.
Curiel announced that the semi-finals of México canta will be held at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles on Aug. 23 and at the Ángela Peralta Theater in Mazatlán on Aug. 31. Six finalists will subsequently perform live during four television transmissions. Via a public vote, three winners will be selected and they will receive recording contracts as prizes.
The seven U.S.-based semifinalists got a chance to show off their talents at today’s mañanera ahead of their performances in L.A. next month. El Bogueto, who hails from Nezahualcóyotl, México state, also performed, singing his song “Mi barrio” (My ‘hood).
Silencio en la mañanera por el asesinato del periodista Alejandro Leyva
Tampoco hubo una palabra por el homicidio del alcalde Valentín Lavín en el palacio municipal de Temoac
— Manuel Lopez San Martin (@MLopezSanMartin) July 23, 2026
Sheinbaum holds mañanera ahead of meeting with Greer
After the update on the second edition of the México canta competition, Sheinbaum told reporters that her mañanera would be ending early at 9 a.m. as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was scheduled to arrive at the National Palace at 10 a.m.
“We’re going to welcome him and we’re going to have a wide-ranging meeting with Economy Ministry colleagues and guests from the United States,” she said.
Sheinbaum: México canta creates a ‘virtuous circle’
Asked what impact México canta has had on young people in terms of steering them away from violence, Sheinbaum responded that “it’s very difficult to measure the impact in numbers.”
She noted that it’s just the second edition of México canta that is underway and highlighted that some 16,500 young people participated in the auditions for the competition.
Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza. (Presidencia)
Those 16,500 people — who are presumably opposed to the glorification of violence in music and other forms of cultural expression — “influence their friends and influence their family,” Sheinbaum said.
“In other words, it’s a virtuous circle and that keeps growing,” she said.
“If we only influenced one person, it would be worth it,” Sheinbaum said. “But of course we want the influence to be massive.”
Sheinbaum also reiterated her view that “music mustn’t glorify violence.”
