Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo has started 2026 as Mexico’s leading state for human trafficking cases, with 35 incidents reported in January alone, according to federal crime data.
The figures from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) show Quintana Roo accounted for 74.5% of all human trafficking cases nationwide during the first month of the year.
The state’s 35 cases far exceeded those in other states: Baja California recorded 5 cases, while Guanajuato had 2.
When calculated per 100,000 women, Quintana Roo’s rate stands at 3.29, compared to 0.24 in Baja California and 0.22 in Baja California Sur.
Victim Demographics
The national agency provided a breakdown of victims’ ages in the 35 Quintana Roo cases:
- 0-12 years: 1 victim
- 13-17 years: 3 victims
- 18-29 years: 8 victims
- 30-60 years: 17 victims
- Over 60 years: 1 victim
- Age not specified: 5 victims
Continuing Trend
Quintana Roo ended 2025 with 484 human trafficking cases, maintaining the top national position throughout all 12 months. The state concentrated 58% of Mexico’s total human trafficking cases last year.
In 2025, victims included not only Mexican nationals but also foreign nationals from Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, India, Peru, Belize, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Italy, and Norway.
Nationally, human trafficking cases totaled 47 in January 2026, with only eight states reporting such crimes.
Legal Framework
Current Quintana Roo legislation defines human trafficking as recruiting, transporting, or retaining people through threat or use of force for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, or other forms of exploitation. The crime affects women, men, adolescents, girls, and boys.
The state’s Law to Prevent and Eradicate Human Trafficking stipulates prison sentences ranging from 6 to 27 years for perpetrators, depending on applicable aggravating factors.
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