The auxiliary communities of Santa María Moyotzingo, San Baltazar Temaxcalac, and San Lucas Atoyatenco are experiencing a significant security crisis in San Martín Texmelucan due to unmonitored border roads, according to Sabás López Rico, president of the local chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services, and Tourism (Canaco Servytur).
According to the business leader, this vulnerability along the border with Tlaxcala has allowed criminals operating in the municipality to escape quickly. He also warned that the situation discourages investment and suffocates the local economy, a problem worsened by the inefficiency of public prosecutors, whose bureaucratic obstacles ultimately make it easier for criminals to be released.
The situation is not new. Last June, Antonio Martínez Velázquez, spokesperson for the Government of the State of Tlaxcala, described the border area between San Martín Texmelucan and Tlaxcala as a high-risk zone that extends toward Hidalgo and Mexico City.
“The border area with Puebla, near San Martín Texmelucan, is a red zone for both Puebla and Tlaxcala, and security must be reinforced. It has not only been identified, but specific security actions are already underway throughout this area. Due to its geographic location, it is now part of the crime problem in Tlaxcala,” the neighboring state’s official said.
Lack of Surveillance on Border Access Roads Facilitates Criminal Escapes
In an interview, López Rico stated that the territorial strip between San Martín Texmelucan and the neighboring state has become a major concern for the business sector because three auxiliary communities bordering Tlaxcala have high crime rates and multiple access points without surveillance, creating favorable conditions for organized crime.
“We have a corridor made up of several auxiliary communities with high levels of insecurity, including Santa María Moyotzingo, San Baltazar Temaxcalac, and San Lucas Atoyatenco. This area has several access routes, and not all of them are monitored, allowing organized crime to commit offenses while using these escape routes between the two states,” he said.
The local Canaco Servytur representative added that the problem is compounded by poor coordination between police forces in Puebla and Tlaxcala, as well as the insufficient number of officers assigned to permanently monitor the various access routes.
“We must understand that the border separating Tlaxcala from Puebla is, at times, vulnerable. This is due to a lack of coordination, as there are often not enough officers stationed, properly identified, and conducting operations to verify whether vehicles have altered license plates or whether serial numbers match the vehicle. Coordination is essential,” he stated.
Regarding crime in San Martín Texmelucan, he explained that crime rates fluctuate, increasing, decreasing, and rising again, but never disappear completely.
He attributed this to criminal groups moving from one municipality to another or even relocating to neighboring states to make capture more difficult.
Few Reports and Poor Performance by Police and Public Prosecutors
Regarding commercial robberies, López Rico explained that one of the main problems affecting businesses in the downtown area is the activity of so-called “farderas,” groups of men and women who commit shoplifting by distracting store employees.
He revealed that although the Chamber of Commerce provides guidance and assistance to members wishing to file criminal complaints, very few take advantage of the service. Furthermore, he claimed that when victims do report crimes, prosecutors at the San Martín Texmelucan Justice Center create obstacles, delay procedures, or even favor the accused.
He noted that out of the Chamber’s 1,411 affiliated businesses, only five report being victims of crime. He described this as alarming and attributed it to fear of retaliation and a lack of confidence in the authorities.
“The Chamber of Commerce is always available to support our members, provide legal guidance, and accompany them when filing complaints, but we cannot force anyone to do so. In many cases, they are encouraged to report crimes to the Prosecutor’s Office, but they simply no longer believe it is worthwhile,” he explained.
He added that suspects are sometimes arrested, but victims often do not continue with the legal process because they are only interested in recovering their merchandise or receiving compensation. In some cases, they choose not to pursue the matter, resulting only in an administrative penalty.
He also criticized the performance of some public prosecutors assigned to the San Martín Texmelucan Justice Center, as well as the lack of training among certain police officers.
“With those who do file complaints, we have encountered the inability of some prosecutors to properly assemble an investigation file. There are often deficiencies from the initial arrest, the preparation of the Standardized Police Report, and the handling of evidence. These delays allow suspects to be released, and in some cases prosecutors themselves appear to favor the offenders,” he alleged.
For this reason, he called on Attorney General Idamis Pastor Betancourt to oversee the work of public prosecutors, emphasizing that crime victims also deserve institutional support from the agencies responsible for administering justice.
He stressed that addressing insecurity is essential because the lack of public safety creates distrust, discourages investment, and ultimately harms the municipality’s economy.
He added that, following the appointment of Navy officer Armando Martínez Mayo as Municipal Secretary of Public Security on June 1, the business community has decided to give him a vote of confidence.
“We met with him, and the Municipal Public Security Secretariat presented its action plan. I believe we agree with the measures they intend to implement to reduce the crimes that most affect business owners in the municipality of San Martín Texmelucan,” he concluded.
Commercial Theft, Disappearances, and Auto Parts Theft Define Crime Trends in Texmelucan
Crime statistics from the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) show that between January and May 2026—the latest available reporting period—auto parts theft increased from three to seven cases compared with the same period in the previous year.
Commercial robberies also increased by 240%, with 34 investigations opened this year compared to 10 during the same period in 2025.
Disappearances rose by 78.6%, increasing from 14 investigations in the first five months of 2025 to 25 during the same period in 2026.
Other crimes also increased, including domestic violence, which rose by 78.6%, from 56 cases in 2025 to 100 so far in 2026.
The crime of property damage also increased by 183.3%, rising from 12 investigations in 2025 to 34 between January and May 2026.
Likewise, sexual offenses increased. In the case of simple rape, investigations rose from two to seven during the same comparison period.
Source: oem
