Mexico: criminal groups attack journalists after death of cartel leader, government must ensure justice and protect reporters

After Mexican security forces killedthe leader of the CJNG - one of Mexico's largest criminal groups and named on the 2025 RSF List of Press Freedom Predators- journalists covering the ensuing narco-blockades and cartel clashes with state security were attacked by members of organised crime groups. So far, RSF has been able to verify eight incidents, which involved gunfire directed at press vehicles, beatings, stolen cameras and mobile phones and serious threats; most of these cases occurred in the states of Jalisco, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has not yet issued any formal statement regarding the attacks on the press, despite signing a pledgedrawn up by RSF to protect press freedom and the safety of journalists. Since she became president, there has been little evidenceof progress in translating that commitment into concrete action.

The eight cases

In Jalisco, reporter Otoniel Martínez, from the television channel Azteca Noticias, publicly statedthat the vehicle in which he and his team were travelling was struck by gunfire during coverage; luckily, no injuries were reported. In the same state, journalist Lupita Martínez, from the digital outlet Vallarta Al Momento, was forced to get out of her car at gunpointwhile covering the news. In Sinaloa, journalists Belizario Reyesand Juvencio Villanueva, both from the newspaper Noroeste, were assaultedwhile reporting. Their outlet informed RSF that both were beaten and stripped of their equipment.

In Tamaulipas, journalist Guadalupe Castorena, from the newspaper El Mañana de Reynosa, had his vehicle and equipment forcibly taken from himwhile covering the development of the blockades. In Reynosa, journalist Jesús Humberto Gonzálezfrom the digital outlet Cambio Presstold RSF that he was briefly held by organised crime group members at a checkpoint, who threatened the journalist and his family, who were with him as he stopped to record events for his outlet. He was later released, but told RSF that he had been physically assaulted.

In Guanajuato, colleagues of the journalist Ian Martínezfrom the newspaper Correotold RSF that he was threatened by men travelling in a pickup truck who ordered him to stop covering the events. In Michoacán, RSF verified an eighth case of intimidation against a journalist who requested anonymity for security reasons. The news professional received an anonymous call threatening him not to publish information about what was happening.