Why Mexican cartels are increasingly using car bombs and other explosives

Mexico's drug cartels are increasingly resorting to car bombs and explosives to carry out attacks, a trend that could complicate the already strained relationship between Mexico and the United States. This shift in tactics was recently witnessed in a car bomb attack outside a police station in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, which injured 11 people and caused significant damage to homes in the city center.

In just one year, Zacatecas has seen a total of 23 explosive attacks, including six involving cars or motorcycles packed with explosives, according to state Attorney General Cristian Paul Camacho.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel have been battling for control of Zacatecas for years. The use of car bombs by these cartels has raised concerns in Mexico, despite the scale of violence still being lower than in countries like Colombia. University of Coahuila professor Victor Manuel Sánchez notes that car bombings have been a part of Mexican violence for several decades, with a notable incident in 1994 involving the Tijuana Cartel targeting Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a CJNG member who was later convicted in the United States.

The CJNG, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, has increasingly utilized explosives in its attacks, often using drones to deliver explosive devices. In 2023, roadway bombs planted by drug cartels in Jalisco killed six people and injured 14. The Mexican military acknowledged this growing threat and released its first figures, stating that they had seized about 2,800 explosive devices nationwide over the past four and a half years.

Experts warn that this trend of car bombings is causing an increase in fear and retaliation among civilians. While the Mexican government has seen a decline in killings nationwide, authorities have not released more recent nationwide figures on explosive devices seized. Organized crime expert Vanda Felbab-Brown from the Brookings Institution stresses that this development in Mexico represents a worsening situation, intensifying the atmosphere of fear and violence.