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Mexico Business Intelligence Report (June 2005)
International Terrorists in Mexico?
According to Aon Insurance, Mexico is considered a medium risk country for international terrorism, as there are reliable reports on the presence of Al Qaeda cells in Mexico, but only in transit or as temporary residents with the objective of entering the U.S. (Milenio, 2 May 2005). In a related story, four Iraqis traveling on false Dutch passports were detained upon their arrival on an airline flight from Mexico City to Mexicali. (Notimex, 30 March 2005). Comments:
- Concerns over the porous U.S.-Mexican border are obvious.
- Should this conduit become more difficult, international terrorists may then consider softer targets within Mexico.
- Targets might include the U.S. Embassy and Consulates, critical Pemex installations, etc.
Security in Mexico City vs. Some Major Cities of the World: How We Compare?
According to a study on personal security by Mercer Human Resource Consulting covering 215 cities around the world:
| World Rank | City |
|---|---|
| 87 | Monterrey |
| 94 | Santiago |
| 115 | Buenos Aires |
| 126 | Mexico City |
| 148 | Sao Paulo |
| 193 | Caracas |
| 210 | Bogota |
(AmericaEconomia, 7 April 2005)
Mexican Supreme Court Evaluating Judicial Reform Proposals:
The Court is beginning a second phase evaluation of eight thousand proposals, involving transparency for the judicial process, new laws on injunctions, human rights, etc., some of which require Federal legislation while other merely require internal regulatory procedural changes. (Reforma, 14 April 2005). Comment: Everyone agrees we need substantive judicial reform. But when will it become a reality? As they say, justice delayed is justice denied, and we have been denied justice for a very long time!
Kidnap Express: A Felony Crime Now:
The Mexican Congress passed a law making kidnap express a felony crime, with a prison sentence of up to 40 years, even if the victim was deprived of his liberty for only one minute! Comment: Although laudable, attacking the impunity criminals enjoy is the real challenge.
Reforma Poll of May 2005 and Trends:
In the past three months have you been a victim of a crime? Yes:
Average of four polls in
2001 18%
2002 21%
2003 15%
2004 15%
2005 13% (February)
2005 14% (May)
Did you file a police complaint? Yes:
Average of four polls in
2001 25%
2002 27%
2003 20%
2004 26%
2005 28% (February)
2005 34% (May)
Comment: We appear to be at the start of a positive trend, suggesting that recent city police reforms and initiatives are starting to have positive results.
In a comparative study of police salaries among these major cities:
| City | # Police | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 1,000 | 6,000 |
| Rome | 748 | 18,500 |
| Paris | 846 | 17,000 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 300 | 4,250 |
| Bogota | 150 | 3,350 |
| Buenos Aires | 550 | 2,600 |
Note: # of police per 100,000 residents and salaries are monthly in Mexican pesos. (Reforma, 14 April 2005).
Although auto theft in Mexico City has diminished recently, the comparative average daily number of vehicular robberies in 2005 was:
Mexico City 82.4
Los Angeles 76
Chicago 62.4
Buenos Aires 46
(Reforma, 26 April 2005)
Crime Trends in Mexico City
The Good News:
AFI, the Mexican FBI, has now arrested five members of the Los Bayardo kidnapping gang that perpetrated the highly publicized kidnap for ransom a couple of years ago in Mexico City of Laura Zapata and Ernestina Sodi, sisters of Thalia, the internationally known recording artist. (Milenio, 19 May 2005).
Comment: This is hopeful news and may start to convey the message to kidnappers that the impunity they have long enjoyed may be ending.
The Bad News:
City Jails Overflowing:
There are over 30,000 detained in city jails that have a total capacity of only 20,720. (Reforma, 9 May 2005)
Auto Theft in Mexico City:
Most stolen vehicles:
VW Sedan 37.9%
Nissan Tsuru 25.8%
VW Jetta 13.8%
Chevy 9.2%
Vehicles most vulnerable to carjackings are:
Honda Civic, Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Jetta.
Comment: Most likely because these models have anti-theft devices that preclude their theft as parked cars, but not carjackings!
What to do if your car is stolen?
- Call 061 to report the theft which will help in its possible recovery.
- With evidence of ownership, file a police report at the Public Ministry.
- File a claim with your insurance company.
- Pray the vehicle is recovered by the police 70% are recovered!
Virtual and Express Kidnappings:
According to the Citizen Council on Public Safety, Mexico City has a daily average of 15 express kidnappings, and 80 virtual kidnappings. Comment: Virtual kidnappings are the scams in which a family member is observed temporarily leaving the residence and the family is called claiming falsely that the person has been kidnapped. The 80 virtual kidnappings daily probably include the numerous kidnap extortion calls that prevail today. Do you have a plan for how to respond to these kinds of calls?
Thanks for your attention, and please continue to send us your comments, critiques and experiences to improve and enrich subsequent issues to:
Media Contact
Jillian Bernaiche
(602) 889 - 1626