By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat
Across Mexico, thousands of farmers and truckers are blocking highways today to protest insecurity, rising fuel prices, and poor conditions of farmers. Security along Mexico’s highways has deteriorated in recent years due to carjackings, disappearances, and rampant cargo theft.
The highway blockades, scheduled for April 6, are being organized by the National Association of Transport Drivers (ANTAC) and the National Front for the Rescue of the Mexican Field (FNRCM). Highways are reportedly blocked in more than 20 of Mexico’s 32 states.
Nationwide strikes and highway blockades have become a common protest tactic in Mexico in recent years, where threats to truckers and other motorists have increased. Mexicans consistently rank highways as one of the places where they feel most unsafe. Cargo transport drivers are particularly at risk. Around 40 cargo trucks are hijacked across Mexico every day, with 80% of the hijackings including violence.
Criminals, often linked to large cartels, will ambush cargo truck drivers on rural highways. Sometimes, the criminals use tirespikes or lasers to force the drivers to stop. Other times, the criminals will box the drivers in with vehicles and force the drivers out at gunpoint. The hijacked truck is taken to a rural stash house before the goods are ransomed back, or sold at markets.
Sources: NMas Noticias, Prensa Momento, Envipe 2025, El Universal, “Cargo Theft in the Transportation Sector: A Comparative Analysis of Texas and Mexico” by Nathan Jones