Mexico’s “war on drugs,” which began in 2006, has resulted in a staggering death toll, with 

more than 450,000 murders recorded by October 2024 and tens of thousands more missing. Homicides linked to organized crime have consistently outpaced civilian deaths in recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Key statistics and recent events:

• Total Deaths: Since 2006, official figures in Mexico have recorded more than 450,000 murders related to organized crime. Other sources claim more than 120,000 murders occurred between 2006 and 2012 alone.
• Annual Homicides: The annual murder rate in Mexico has fluctuated but remains high, with a peak of 33,341 homicides in 2018. In 2023, the state of Guanajuato alone recorded 3,151 homicides, making it Mexico’s deadliest state.
• Fentanyl Crisis in the U.S.: Mexican cartels are primarily responsible for producing and smuggling fentanyl into the United States, which has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths. Fentanyl overdoses are now a leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
• Recent Violence (2024-2025): An internal war within the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, stemming from a power struggle between rival factions, has caused a sharp rise in violence in the state of Sinaloa. In July 2025, 20 mutilated bodies, some decapitated and found hanging from a bridge, were discovered in Culiacán. As of August 2025, over 571 civilians had been killed in Sinaloa so far that year. 

The violence has widespread consequences, including the displacement of residents, economic disruption, and severe public health impacts, such as an increase in “deaths of despair” (deaths from alcoholic liver disease, suicide, and drug-related causes) among the broader population. The U.S. State Department has issued “do not travel” advisories for several Mexican states due to the extreme risk of crime and violence.