EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When compared to the previous month, some measures of insecurity showed a slight improvement. Specifically, the number of reported attacks on governmental authorities declined slightly, as did the number of mass deposits of victims' bodies. However, several measures also showed increases or steady patterns, such as the number of major battles and attacks on civilians in public venues. Violence continues to surge in San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas. This pattern emerged earlier this year and will likely continue forward in the mid-term as the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) continues to expand into those states.  

Interestingly, the media reported that Edgar Valdez Villarreal, “La Barbie," is no longer in U.S. custody at USP Coleman Penitentiary in Florida. He is no longer listed on the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator despite being sentenced to 49 years in 2018. There is speculation that he is collaborating with the U.S. authorities as a protected witness. However, the U.S. Embassy has stated that he is still in U.S. custody.

There were 44 attacks directed at governmental authorities reported during November. This figure is a notable drop from the previous month and is slightly less than the average for 2022. More importantly, there was a decline in assassinations of government officials this month. There were three such incidents reported during November. The most prominent victim was a mayor gunned down near a school in San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca. A municipal official was assassinated in Miahuatlán, Oaxaca. A municipal official from Texistepec was gunned down in Acayucan, Veracruz. There was an additional attack on a government official that did not result in fatalities. In that incident, assailants entered the home of the municipal treasurer in Acayucan, Veracruz. He initially declined to report the incident to authorities.

At least 21 police and military personnel were killed in attacks this month. This represents a significant drop from the previous two months but is near the average for 2022. Among the victims this month was the Brigadier General, who was the coordinator of the Guardia Nacional in the state of Zacatecas. He was killed during an attack in Pinos, Zacatecas. Several additional federal officers were injured in the attack. Elsewhere, a group of sicarios shot and then kidnapped the municipal chief of police in Metepec, Hidalgo. He was later rescued. A police commander was executed in Tulcingo del Valle, Puebla. The former chief of police was murdered alongside several family members in Tarimoro, Michoacán.

There were numerous incidents where police officers or military personnel were gunned down in public venues or were kidnapped and subsequently murdered. In one incident, an agent of the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE) was killed in an attack in Tarímbaro, Michoacán. A state police crime scene investigator was kidnapped and murdered in Buenos Aires, Veracruz. The mayor's bodyguard was gunned down in Pitiquito, Sonora. Other incidents occurred in Guanajuato, Guerrero, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.

There were 51 street battles reported during November. This is the highest number since April. During November, these battles occurred in 12 states (Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas). Also, the army sent 550 additional soldiers to Nuevo Laredo (Tamaulipas) following a series of attacks in the city.

Public transport continues to be hazardous in various regions of the country, especially in Edomex, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz. These hazards also extend to bus travel, which armed robbers are increasingly targeting. In one case, shots were fired at a passenger bus on a highway near Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. A bus driver was executed in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. A rural bus driver was killed in Tlacamama, Oaxaca. There were also reports of armed robberies of travelers along Highway 175 near Cosamaloapan, Veracruz. Also, assailants intercepted an individual from the U.S. while traveling through Tabasco en route to his home in Yucatán. He was robbed and killed.

During November, at least 46 people were killed in attacks on civilians in public venues such as restaurants, bars, small businesses, and shopping areas. There were at least 18 such incidents this month. These attacks occurred across nine states. Other homicides involved the kidnap/murder of intended targets and placing their remains in prominent locations. These mass deposits of victims’ bodies were found at 60 different sites across 20 states. This is the lowest number since October 2021. However, despite the decline in the placement of victims' bodies in prominent public locations, preliminary news reports suggest that the total number of homicides in November will come close to those of the last few months.

State police discovered what they describe as an “extermination camp” on a rural property near Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Also, authorities reported that 50-plus bags of human remains found in Irapuato (Guanajuato) were killed during the last month. Mass grave sites were also discovered in the cities of Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez, and Satevó (all in Chihuahua). Data from SEGOB also indicates that October had the second-highest number of felony homicides thus far in 2022.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Public safety conditions during October closely matched those of the previous few months. The number of attacks against authorities was lower than in September but similar to the previous ten months. With regard to the number of battles reported, this figure was also lower than in September but very similar to the first two quarters of 2022. There were, however, a higher number of attacks on civilians in public venues reported this month. The number of kidnapping incidents reported by the media was also up this month. Also, reports of cargo theft appear to have increased, although official numbers will not be available until late November. Overall, the high levels of insecurity across many areas of the country have continued throughout 2022.

Public safety conditions during October closely matched those of the previous few months. The number of attacks against authorities was lower than in September but similar to the previous ten months. With regard to the number of battles reported, this figure was also lower than in September but very similar to the first two quarters of 2022. There were, however, a higher number of attacks on civilians in public venues reported this month. The number of kidnapping incidents reported by the media was also up this month. Also, reports of cargo theft appear to have increased, although official numbers will not be available until late November. Overall, the high levels of insecurity across many areas of the country have continued throughout 2022.

There were at least 59 attacks directed at government authorities reported during October. This figure is the second highest since April. With regard to assassinations in October, there were nine reported. This is the highest number of assassinations since March 2021.

At least 30 police officers or soldiers were killed in attacks this month. Among the victims was the municipal chief of police, who was executed in San Miguel Soyaltepec Temascal, Oaxaca. The chief of police was executed in Mártires de Tacubaya, Oaxaca. The chief of police was intercepted and killed in Francisco Z. Mena, Puebla. The transit chief of police was intercepted and killed in Zuazua, Nuevo Léon. Gunmen kidnapped the municipal chief of police in Valparaíso, Zacatecas.

Two army patrols were attacked in Chiapas and Chihuahua. In one incident, sicarios fired on a combined army and Guardia Nacional patrol near Guachochi, Chihuahua. Six patrols of the Guardia Nacional were attacked in Jalisco, Michoacán, Nuevo Léon (2 attacks), Sonora, and Tamaulipas.

There were also 17 additional fatal attacks on authorities across several states. For example, a former prosecutor was gunned down in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Two municipal police officers were kidnapped and murdered in Oaxaca, Oaxaca. A municipal police officer was dismembered in Cuautla, Morelos. A former chief of police of Santa Catarina was executed in Monterrey, Nuevo Léon. A member of the Guardia Nacional was executed in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, Oaxaca. Additional officers were killed in Edomex, Guanajuato (3 incidents), Mexico City, Oaxaca, Sonora, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.

As we continue to report each month, overland travel in many rural areas of Mexico continues to be hazardous. There continue to be reports of armed highway robberies in Tamaulipas and Veracruz. Indeed, the Mexican federal police continue to advise against night-time travel across Tamaulipas. Also, numerous robberies have been reported along Highway 45 between Salamanca (Guanajuato) and Celaya. Additional robberies were reported along Highway 150D near San Martín Texmelucan, Puebla. Other robberies were reported along Highway 150 between Córdoba and Veracruz, Veracruz. Indeed, more than 40 travelers were robbed by several gunmen while waiting for a traffic accident to clear on Highway 150 near Ciudad Mendoza, Veracruz.

Official figures concerning the total number of homicide victims of organized crime is not yet available for October. However, preliminary assessments suggest the month will be similar to the last several months. However, the Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública (SESNSP) reported a 29% increase in felony homicides in Edomex over the last two months. The U.S. State Department also issued an updated warning against travel to Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. The primary concern is the threat of violence and kidnapping.

Women and children continue to be targeted by organized crime groups. This month at least 73 women were killed across 14 states. Most female victims were in Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz. A woman locally well-known for looking for her missing daughter was gunned down in Puebla. An assailant on a motorcycle gunned down a woman in Tierra Blanca, Veracruz. Assailants shot and killed a woman on a street in Chimalhuacán, Edomex. A woman was injured by gunfire during a drive-by shooting in Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. The body of a 16-year-old girl was discovered in Saltillo, Coahuila. The dismembered body of a woman was found in San Luis de Letras, Aguascalientes.

Nine confirmed cases of fatal attacks related to extortion operations during October resulted in 14 fatalities. Both of these figures are higher than the monthly average for 2022. These incidents occurred in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca (2 incidents), Puebla, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. Among the victims were the owners, employees, or patrons of several small stores, a bar, a butcher, and several restaurants. In one case, the owner of a transport company was gunned down in Oaxaca. The owner of another transport company was intercepted and killed in Santa Rosa Panzacola, Oaxaca. Finally, in a possible case related to extortion, an Oxxo store was destroyed by arson in Apaseo El Grande, Guanajuato. Another Oxxo was set on fire in León, Guanajuato. Shots were fired into several businesses in Minatitlán, Veracruz.

During October, authorities reported the disruption of three kidnapping operations. This figure is similar to the previous two months. These operations were located in Edomex (2 operations) and Veracruz. There were also several cases in which law enforcement personnel were able to rescue kidnap victims. For example, state police rescued two people in Zapopan, Jalisco. Police rescued an individual in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. State police rescued an individual in San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz. Police rescued an architect who had been kidnapped in Oteapan, Veracruz. Elsewhere, assailants kidnapped the mayor's sister from her business in Ixtapan de la Sal, Edomex. She was later rescued. Four minors (including a 10-year-old girl) were rescued from a hotel in Ecatepec, Edomex. The children had been kidnapped while walking along a street four days earlier. Police rescued two minors in Naucalpan, Edomex. One of the victims had been kidnapped in Nayarit. Police rescued a minor in Huehuetoca, Edomex. Seven people were arrested during the operation.

There were numerous robberies and hijackings of cargo this month. Most of the incidents were in Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz. In one incident, a truck driver was killed during a hijacking along Highway 150 between Mexico City and Puebla. A truck driver was shot near Acayucan, Veracruz. A milk truck driver was killed during a robbery in Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca. A milk delivery truck was hijacked in Puebla. Assailants hijacked a truck transporting tobacco products along Highway 175 near Cosamaloapan (Veracruz) and set the load on fire. Municipal police frustrated an attempted truck hijacking in Ecatepec, Edomex. Police recovered 80 tons of stolen merchandise from a warehouse in Jiutepec, Morelos.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There were several widely-reported security failures in Mexico this month. There was an increase in attacks on governmental authorities and major street battles during August. Attacks on civilians in public venues such as bars and restaurants, as well as extortion-related fatalities, also increased this month.

Territorial conflicts between rival criminal organizations caused significant disruption in several regions of the country. Numerous battles, narcobloqueos, and burned businesses occurred in Jalisco and adjacent areas of Guanajuato. The media reported that regional cartel leaders Roberto Ruiz Velazco “El Doble R” and Gerardo González Ramírez “El Apá” of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) were able to escape in the chaos. During the conflict, sicarios (cartel gunmen) set fire to at least 29 businesses (including 24 Oxxo stores) in Guanajuato. Fourteen vehicles and several businesses were destroyed by arson in Guadalajara. A few days later, another series of battles and narcobloqueos occurred in several northern cities of Baja California (Tijuana, Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito, Tecate). Authorities were able to capture Luis Enrique N. “El Ñoño," a key operative, during the operation. Elsewhere, the arrest of José Bernabé Brizuela “La Vaca," a key leader of the Cártel Independiente de Colima, triggered a series of battles, narcobloqueos, and kidnap-executions in Colima. Later in the month, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí were the locations of at least seven major battles and narcobloqueos.

There were 49 attacks directed at governmental authorities reported in August. This figure is the highest since May. Among these incidents, there were six assassinations of government or party officials. This month, 22 soldiers, marines, and police officers were killed in various attacks. Among these was a chief of police who was gunned down in Irimbo, Michoacán. A deputy chief of police was gunned down in Culiacán, Sinaloa. Another deputy chief was killed in Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato.

In continued attacks on the media, four employees of a radio station were killed by sicarios in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. A journalist with a local news outlet Tú Voz was killed by gunmen at a bar in San Luis de la Paz, Guanajuato. Two operators of a Facebook page called Tijuana 664 were executed inside a home in Tijuana, Baja California. They had routinely published information about violent incidents in the city. A journalist was kidnapped and murdered in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. A journalist was killed in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. He had recently reported about political corruption in the region. He was the 15th journalist killed thus far in 2022. According to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico ranks first among the most dangerous countries for journalists.

Mexican federal authorities reported the capture of eight regional leaders of the major cartels during August. This is the highest number since April 2018.

Numerous corrupt political leaders and police officers were also arrested on various charges. For example, a former deputy chief of the police was charged with homicide in Xalapa, Veracruz. A municipal police officer was charged with homicide in Huazantlán del Río, Oaxaca. The media also reported that the husband of a municipal official (Celaya, Guanajuato) is the leader of an extortion band that operates in that city.

At least 48 major street battles were reported during August. This figure is the highest number since April. In one incident, at least 13 sicarios were killed in a battle in San Luis Potosí. A fragmentation grenade was used during a battle in Colima, Colima.

There were numerous reports of criminals targeting travelers. In one incident, assailants pulled a driver from his vehicle and killed him as he traveled along a highway north of Monterrey, Nuevo León. Two people were intercepted and killed while driving along a highway near Rafael Delgado, Veracruz. Three people were intercepted and killed along a highway near Acatlán, Puebla. Gunmen fired on a vehicle near Santiago Juxtlahuaca (Oaxaca), killing one person and injuring seven others.

The number of felony homicides has not yet been reported for August; however, the figure will likely closely match those of the last several months. In other words, it will likely be near 2250 for the month. There were at least 38 attacks on civilians in public venues such as restaurants, bars, shopping areas, markets, repair shops, a gym, and several funerals. This was the highest number of attacks since April 2019. These incidents resulted in 76 fatalities, the highest number of fatalities since August 2019. Perhaps, the most notable incident occurred when seven people were killed, and four were injured during an attack on bar patrons in Colima, Colima.