Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Between January and May 2025, the Mexican Army removed 9,892 illicit cameras in 25 states, revealing the vast scale of organized-crime surveillance networks.
Federal authorities have uncovered a sprawling network of clandestine surveillance cameras operated by organized crime groups across Mexico, prompting the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) to compile the first-ever registry of devices removed nationwide. Between January and May 2025, Mexican Army units deactivated 9,892 video cameras allegedly installed by criminal organizations in 25 of the country’s 32 federal entities, according to Sedena’s transparency report (Folio 330026425000920). The operation—unprecedented in scope—highlights both the rapid expansion of illicit monitoring and the coordinated response mounted by federal, state and municipal authorities to regain control of public spaces and protect law enforcement tactics from being exposed.
The registry reveals that Guanajuato led all states by a wide margin, with 5,409 criminal-operated cameras dismantled during the first five months of 2025. No other state even approached that figure. Sinaloa followed with 1,563 cameras uninstalled, while Zacatecas rounded out the top three at 502 devices. Beyond these hotspots, the registry lists 398 cameras in the State of Mexico; 344 in Baja California; 305 in Veracruz; and 221 in Chiapas. Tabasco (192), Jalisco (178), San Luis Potosí (160), Sonora (144), Guerrero (121) and Oaxaca (75) also registered significant seizures. Nayarit (70), Tlaxcala (48), Puebla (43), Baja California Sur (30), Morelos (22) and Mexico City (21) were next, followed by Michoacán (16). Tamaulipas, Quintana Roo and Querétaro each saw seven cameras deactivated; Chihuahua six; and Nuevo León three.
In Oaxaca, where criminal surveillance has become especially pervasive, the State Attorney General’s Office (FGEO) joined forces with Sedena and the National Guard on March 17, 2025 to target cameras along the Pacific coast. “We uninstalled and secured more than 40 closed-circuit cameras on streets throughout Santa Cruz Huatulco that were presumably used by criminal cells for intelligence gathering and to monitor both residents and law enforcement movements,” the FGEO statement announced. Local officials say that removing these devices is critical to protecting community privacy, disrupting illicit communications networks and ensuring that police operations cannot be compromised.
While 9,892 criminal-operated cameras were removed this year, they represent only a fraction of the nation’s broader video-surveillance infrastructure. Public security agencies maintain tens of thousands of devices for legitimate monitoring purposes: Mexico City operates 69,533 cameras for traffic control, crime deterrence and emergency response, and the State of Mexico government deploys 20,000 cameras across its municipalities, according to the Fourth Annual Report of the National Public Security Strategy (2023). Outside these two jurisdictions, no state’s official security network approaches the number of cameras that criminal groups had installed: Jalisco (6,502), Veracruz (5,712), Michoacán (5,316), Hidalgo (5,077) and Guanajuato (4,366) top the list of state-run systems that rival, but do not exceed, the illicit networks now being dismantled.
In Zacatecas—where over 500 criminal cameras were deactivated—official data indicates that organized groups had begun installing devices along key transit corridors and rural highways, aiming to track police patrols, ambush targets and impose extortion schemes on local businesses. The swift military response, which capitalized on aerial reconnaissance and intelligence-sharing between Sedena and the National Guard, has significantly reduced the networks’ reach. However, state authorities caution that criminals are adapting by deploying smaller, battery-powered cameras and leveraging encrypted wireless transmissions, complicating detection efforts.
The municipality of Naucalpan in the State of Mexico has adopted a multi-agency initiative named Operation Halcón to root out unauthorized surveillance in its urban neighborhoods. Launched in mid-March, the strategy involves four dedicated patrol teams from the municipal police working alongside the State Attorney General’s Office (FGJEM), the State Security Secretariat (SSEM) and the National Guard. On March 14, 2025, Operation Halcón’s first phase led to the removal of 208 cameras illegally affixed to trees, utility poles, communication masts and overpasses. By late April, crews had dismantled another 19 cameras. Municipal officials warn that the operation will continue throughout the year as part of an ongoing crackdown on criminal intelligence-gathering.
Experts say that organized crime’s turn to video surveillance marks a new level of sophistication, allowing cartels and other networks to monitor rival groups, local residents and law enforcement movements in real time. “These systems have been instrumental for cartels to protect their operations, scout for possible raids, and exert control over communities through constant visual monitoring,” explained security analyst Dr. Laura Méndez of the National Institute of Criminal Policy. “The military’s registry not only disrupts these networks but also provides crucial data on how criminal groups adapt their tactics and technologies.”
Civil society organizations have welcomed the registry’s publication but stress that transparency must extend beyond raw figures. “We need detailed mapping of where cameras were removed, the technical specifications of seized devices, and follow-up on whether cameras are being reinstalled,” said Ricardo Pérez, director of Citizens for Secure Communities. “Greater coordination with municipal authorities and community groups will ensure that public safety efforts are sustainable, respect privacy rights, and do not inadvertently harm legitimate grassroots surveillance initiatives.”
The registry’s revelation also raises questions about the legal framework governing the deployment of video-surveillance systems in Mexico. While federal, state and municipal governments must obtain permits and adhere to data-protection rules, criminal groups operate outside any regulatory oversight. Lawmakers have begun drafting amendments to the Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties, aiming to strengthen penalties for illegal camera installations and impose clearer liabilities on property owners who allow unauthorized devices. Pending reforms could also mandate that telecommunications providers report suspicious wireless networks that criminals use to transmit video feeds.
For now, Sedena’s registry stands as the most comprehensive public accounting of criminal video-surveillance networks in Mexico. By systematically cataloguing nearly 10,000 devices removed in less than half a year, the military has illuminated the breadth of illicit monitoring while signaling a sustained commitment to dismantling these covert infrastructures. Whether law enforcement can maintain the momentum—and adapt to ever-evolving tactics—remains to be seen. But communities from Guanajuato to Santa Cruz Huatulco now breathe easier knowing that thousands of prying eyes have been taken offline, at least for the moment.
