Since 2018, the Puebla-Mexico highway has become one of the most dangerous routes in the country, plagued by constant robberies and assaults targeting both private motorists and cargo transporters. The situation has worsened year after year, with criminal groups employing increasingly aggressive tactics to intercept vehicles.
According to the FiscalÃa General de la República, over 13,800 robbery complaints were filed along this highway by the end of 2023. Criminals often operate between 6:00 p.m. and midnight, particularly on weekdays, using methods such as throwing rocks, deploying tire-puncturing devices, and even staging fake accidents to force drivers to stop.
The most dangerous stretch lies between the San Marcos toll booth in Chalco, State of Mexico, and the San MartÃn Texmelucan toll booth in Puebla—a 62-kilometer corridor notorious for ambushes, express kidnappings, and violent assaults. Municipalities like Tepeaca, Amozoc, and Huejotzingo have also reported high incidences of cargo theft and attacks on drivers.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 379 assaults were recorded on Puebla’s highways, with 126 occurring specifically on the Puebla-Mexico route. Transport companies have responded by instructing drivers to avoid traveling at night and to rest at gas stations or in groups to reduce vulnerability.
Despite increased patrols and surveillance efforts, the highway remains a hotspot for organized crime. The Asociación Mexicana de Empresas de Seguridad Privada has ranked Puebla as the second most affected state for highway robberies, just behind the State of Mexico.
The ongoing insecurity has sparked calls for stronger federal intervention and improved coordination between state and national law enforcement agencies to protect travelers and restore confidence in one of Mexico’s most vital transportation corridors.
Source: eluniversal.com.mx/
