Michoacán authorities in Mexico deactivate over 1,600 IEDs in 2025
State authorities in Michoacán, central Mexico, seized and deactivated over 1,600 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in 2025, more than double from last year.
According to data from the Michoacán Security Ministry, 1,645 IEDs were neutralised by state authorities last year and 206kg of explosive material was seized. In comparison, 739 artefacts were neutralised in 2024, representing a yearly increase of 122.5 percent.
From their creation in June 2023 to combat the use of IEDs until the end of 2025, the Michoacán "Explosive Devices and Dangerous Materials Specialised Group" deactivated 2,349 homemade and military-style devices. This figure doesn’t include IEDs seized and deactivated by federal security forces such as the army, national guard or navy.
The group’s efforts are mainly concentrated in the Tierra Caliente and Sierra Costa regions of Michoacán, where organised crime activity is particularly prevalent. Crime groups such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Los Viagras are known to attach IEDs to drones to carry out aerial attacks, and they have also used the devices as landmines and car bombs.
According to the head of the group, retired Captain Carlos Roberto Gómez Ruiz, 97 percent of the explosive devices seized are improvised, while the remaining three percent are conventional devices imported from other countries.
"Really, all criminal factions are using these types of explosive devices, not just here in the state, but throughout the country. It's a unfortunately common practice, you could say, just like using a pistol or a rifle," he said.
According to Vanguardia MX, more than 10 civilians and military personnel have died as a result of IEDs planted and dropped by drones by organised crime groups in the Tierra Caliente and Sierra Costa regions.
Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice
Following the assassination on 1 November of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, who had often criticised the federal government for not doing enough to tackle violence and organised crime in Michoacán, the federal government launched the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice.
More than 10,500 members of Mexico's army, air force and national guard are part of the operation to crack down on criminal groups, combat extortion and dismantle drug labs and training camps.
According to statistics from the federal government's security cabinet, between 10 November and 12 January federal and state security forces involved in implementing the plan seized 198 IEDs, 53kg of explosive material, 28,800 litres and 15,300kg of chemical substances, and dismantled 22 camps and 50 clandestine taps of resources, among others.
