Between the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and the escalation of violence by the criminal group led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” not only was a bloody dispute waged, leaving a trail of violence across various regions of the country, but the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) also skyrocketed, particularly in the states where these criminal organizations operate.
These devices have been used as a tool to increase destructive power, intimidate entire communities, and hinder the work of security forces.
2025 marks a record high for explosives seized
In addition to record seizures of conventional weapons, 2025 saw an unprecedented phenomenon: it was the year in which the Mexican Army and the National Guard seized the most IEDs, according to information obtained through a freedom of information request by MILENIO.
Between 2020 and 2025, the Ministry of National Defense and the National Guard seized a total of 15,425 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The trend shows a virtually nonexistent phenomenon between 2020 and 2021, an accelerated expansion starting in 2022, and exponential growth in 2025.
From Marginal Phenomenon to National Threat
During 2020 and 2021, only three devices were seized in total. The trend changed abruptly in 2022, when 1,375 IEDs were confiscated.
In 2023, the figure rose to 1,610, while in 2024 it increased to 2,635 devices.
The 2025 Leap: Seizures Grow 230% in One Year
The turning point came in 2025, when 9,802 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were seized, a record number that accounts for almost 63 percent of the total for the period analyzed and represents an increase of nearly 230 percent compared to the previous year.
The operations in which these devices were seized were concentrated in states with a strong presence of armed criminal organizations and territorial disputes.
The cumulative incidence is led by Sinaloa, with 5,405 devices seized, followed by Michoacán, with 4,110.
They are followed by Nayarit (1,169); Sonora (994); Chihuahua (668); Zacatecas (609); Jalisco (524); Chiapas (515); Guerrero (414); and Tamaulipas (402).
These ten entities account for the overwhelming majority of registered insurance claims.
Sinaloa and Michoacán, epicenter of IED use
The unprecedented escalation occurred in 2025, when Sinaloa alone registered 5,298 seized devices; Michoacán, 2,010; Nayarit, 716; Sonora, 551; Chihuahua, 329; Chiapas, 229; Zacatecas, 179; and Tamaulipas, 164.
Security operations in the mountainous region of Badiraguato, Sinaloa, led to the discovery and destruction of 46 improvised explosive devices on December 29, 2025.
The devices were found in hard-to-reach areas and were made with metal pipes, connectors, wiring, and rudimentary activation systems. Their homemade design, combined with high-pressure materials, made them highly unstable.
Images released from the operation show the devices lined up on the ground, with irregular ties and cuts indicating they were handmade, increasing the risk of accidental detonation during handling.
Due to their dangerous nature, the devices were destroyed on site using controlled procedures.
Devices Marked with CJNG Initials in Apatzingán
On November 25, 2025, federal authorities located four improvised explosive devices during a patrol in Apatzingán, Michoacán.
The devices were marked with initials attributed to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and were partially buried beside a dirt road leading to the community of El Morado.
The area was immediately secured, and explosives experts from the Ministry of National Defense subsequently intervened.
Criminal Mines in Tierra Caliente Leave a Deadly Toll
On August 3 of last year, the Mexican Ministry of National Defense destroyed 43 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly planted by the CJNG cartel in various towns in the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán.
According to court records, the devices were located between June 25 and July 18, in compliance with a permanent injunction granted to residents of the region who requested federal intervention to remove the mines planted by organized crime.
The danger of these devices was demonstrated on May 27, when six soldiers died after a mine exploded in the town of El Santuario, in the municipality of Los Reyes, an area identified as a zone of operation for criminal groups.
The search and deactivation efforts continue as part of the operations to restore security and reduce risks on rural roads and inhabited areas.
What is an improvised explosive device?
Authorities and specialists define an improvised explosive device (IED) as one that is handcrafted or non-standardized, using explosive or incendiary materials to cause damage, destruction, or intimidation.
These are not industrially manufactured weapons nor are they regulated by the armed forces or authorized manufacturers. They typically include an explosive charge—which may contain gunpowder, fertilizers, fuels, or other reactive substances—an activation system, and, in many cases, a casing designed to project fragments.
Among the types observed are improvised mines placed on roads or trails, explosives hidden in infrastructure, drones modified to carry payloads, and traps designed to be activated by pressure, movement, or manipulation.
National Seizure Figures
The following are the seizures made by the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard during these years. The number of cases has increased over the years:
2020: two
2021: one
2022: 1,375
2023: 1,610
2024: 2,635
2025: 9,802
Source: Milenio
Discover more from Cartel Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.