Highway Robbery in Mexico: Gold and Silver Worth $320,000 Stolen

A devastating highway robbery in Jalisco, Mexico, has seen a truck carrying 33 metric tons of gold and silver concentrate hijacked, leaving the precious metals worth six million pesos (approximately $320,000) missing. The heist occurred when two white vehicles with tinted windows intercepted a tractor trailer operated by Fletes Durango, leading to the neutralization of security guards and the release of their driver. The truck cab was recovered, but the trailer and cargo remain missing. This incident is a stark reminder of the growing threat of highway robberies in Mexico, which have become a significant security challenge for the government.

Key Takeaways:

• The stolen cargo contains 33 metric tons of gold and silver concentrate, worth an estimated six million pesos (approximately $320,000).
• The incident occurred on a highway south of Guadalajara, Jalisco's state capital, when two white vehicles with tinted windows intercepted a tractor trailer operated by Fletes Durango.
• The assailants neutralized the security guards and subdued the driver, holding them captive for over an hour while securing the cargo and driving away with the tractor trailer.
• The truck cab was recovered about 28 kilometers southwest of Guadalajara in the municipality of Acatlán de Juárez, but the trailer and cargo remain missing.
• The stolen precious metals belong to Grupo Minero Bacis, one of Mexico's largest producers of gold, silver, zinc, and lead.
• The company has filed a criminal complaint with the Federal Attorney General's Office, and the government is coordinating with affected companies to investigate the heist.

Statistics:

• The value of the stolen cargo is estimated at six million pesos (approximately $320,000).
• Mexico has seen a surge in highway robberies across the country, with reports of robberies occurring on average every 50 minutes.
• In the first two months of 2025, robbery attempts spiked by more than one-third compared to last year, according to Hector Romero, president of Círculo Logístico.

Sources:

• Mexico News Daily, "Highway robbery near Guadalajara nets 6 million pesos worth of gold and silver"
• Bloomberg News, "Mexico truck hijackings cargo theft surge in security challenge for Sheinbaum"
• México Business News, "Newmont reports ore theft in Zacatecas"
• Univision, "Caso robo: 33 toneladas de oro y plata suroeste de México"
• El Universal, "Grupo Minero Bacis interpone denuncia por robo de camión con oro y plata, reconoce afectaciones en sus operaciones y trabajadores"
• El Financiero, "Robo de concentrado de oro y plata a Grupo Bacis: Cuánto le costará el atraco"