Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

• 🩸 Homicides down 20% in April: Mexico recorded an average of 52.5 homicides per day last month, a 20.3% drop year-on-year and the lowest April figure since 2016.

• 🗺️ Most violent states in April: Chihuahua and Guanajuato led with 129 homicides each, followed by Morelos (112), Baja California and Sinaloa (101 each), and México state (90). Together, eight states accounted for 53% of all homicides nationwide.

• 📉 Year-on-year reductions in homicides (Jan–Apr): San Luis Potosí recorded the steepest drop at -80.8%, followed by Zacatecas (-61.8%), Quintana Roo (-60.3%), Guanajuato (-57%), and Nuevo León (-50.8%).

• ⚖️ Security results since Oct. 2024: Authorities have made more than 50,000 arrests for high-impact crimes, seized 391.7 tonnes of illicit drugs, confiscated over 28,000 firearms and dismantled 2,337 clandestine meth labs across 22 states.

• 🇺🇸 Mexico awaits U.S. proof on Sinaloa governor: Foreign Affairs Minister Velasco said Mexico has sent a diplomatic note requesting evidence against Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other officials accused by U.S. prosecutors of drug trafficking, and is still waiting for a response from the State Department.

Why today’s mañanera matters

At President Sheinbaum’s Tuesday mañanera, security officials presented the latest data on homicides, arrests and drug seizures.

Reducing organized crime and homicides is one of the central challenges of the federal government.

The monthly security update provides the government with the opportunity to demonstrate the progress it has made in that respect — and on Tuesday, the security results presented were indeed impressive.

However, it should be noted that violence remains a major problem in various parts of Mexico, and that the accuracy of the federal government’s homicide numbers — provided by the country’s 32 Attorney General’s offices — has been questioned by experts.

Homicides down 20% in April 

National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa presented preliminary data that showed there was an average of 52.5 homicides per day in Mexico in April, a reduction of 20.3% compared to the same month of 2025.

Figueroa focused on the larger reduction in homicides — 39.6% — between September 2024, the final month of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency, and April.

Durante la Conferencia del Pueblo, @Maffiguer, titular del @SESNSP, presentó el reporte nacional de incidencia delictiva con cifras consolidadas al 30 de abril de 2026, con información de las 32 fiscalías estatales. A 19 meses del inicio de la administración de la Presidenta… pic.twitter.com/bjJ7O8qmfH

— Gabinete de Seguridad de México (@GabSeguridadMX) May 12, 2026

“The 40% decline in the daily average of homicides since the beginning of the administration of President Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo stands out,” she said.

Figueroa also highlighted that there 34 fewer homicides per day on average in April than in September 2024. She said that last month had the lowest number of homicides of any April since 2016.

Figueroa also presented data that showed that there was an average of 51.2 homicides per day in the first four months of 2026, an annual reduction of 30%.

Chihuahua and Guanajuato were the most violent states in April  

Figueroa reported that 53% of the 1,575 homicides recorded in Mexico last month occurred in eight states.

Chihuahua and Guanajuato recorded the equal highest number of homicides last month, with 129 murders in each state.

Ranked third to eighth for total homicides in April were:

• Morelos: 112
• Baja California: 101
• Sinaloa: 101
• México state: 90
• Veracruz: 88
• Guerrero: 84

There were 75 homicides in Mexico City last month, the 11th highest total among the 32 federal entities.

Yucatán and Baja California Sur recorded the fewest homicides, with just two murders in each state in April.

Homicides declined more than 80% in SLP in first 4 months of 2026

Figueroa also reported that homicides declined in 26 entities in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period of last year.

The five states with the largest decreases in homicides were:

• San Luis Potosí: -80.8%
• Zacatecas: -61.8%
• Quintana Roo: -60.3%
• Guanajuato: -57%
• Nuevo León: -50.8%

Figuero didn’t report the total number of homicides in those states between January and April.

More than 50,000 arrests since Sheinbaum took office 

Security Minister Omar García Harfuch presented data that showed that 52,628 people were arrested for allegedly committing high-impact crimes such as murder, extortion and kidnapping between Oct. 1, 2024 — the date Sheinbaum was sworn in as president — and April 30.

The data he presented also showed that authorities seized 391.7 tonnes of illicit drugs and 28,031 firearms in the same period.

En la Conferencia del Pueblo se presentaron avances en materia de seguridad, resultado de la coordinación permanente entre las instituciones que integran el Gabinete de Seguridad, bajo el liderazgo de la Presidenta @ClaudiaShein. Estos resultados reflejan el fortalecimiento de… pic.twitter.com/WbO5ru2Ya5

— Gabinete de Seguridad de México (@GabSeguridadMX) May 12, 2026

In addition, the army and navy dismantled 2,337 clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in 22 states, García Harfuch said. The dismantlements prevented the sale and use of “millions of doses” of meth, he said.

Velasco: US has not provided proof against Rocha 

Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco noted that Mexico sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. government requesting proof against Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Sinaloa-based officials who U.S. prosecutors accuse of drug trafficking.

“We’re waiting for a response from the State Department,” he said.

Sheinbaum has endorsed the view of the Federal Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there is currently insufficient proof to detain Rocha and the other suspects.

Rocha, who has taken leave as governor, and the other defendants deny the accusations leveled against them, including that they colluded with the Sinaloa Cartel.

García Harfuch said Tuesday that the government hadn’t “detected” any illicit conduct by Rocha, and asserted that there had never been any “impediment” to the carrying out of federal security operations in Sinaloa.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)