Why Tire Repair Workshops Are the Target of a Wave of Violence in Guanajuato, Mexico

Abstract

Since 2018, the state of Guanajuato has been the most violent state in Mexico due to an intense conflict between criminal groups. This article analyzesan under-examined facet of the Cártel Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL), and the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG ) conflict in Guanajuato: the use oftire repair shops as fronts for criminal activity. An exclusive data set reveals that over the last ten years, at least 138 tire repair shops have been violentlyattacked in the state, leaving over 200 dead. An analysis of crime data, news reports, and statements of local security experts suggests that theseattacks are related to the fight between organized crime groups. These groups have infiltrated tire repair shops, installing networks for merchandizingstolen fuel and methamphetamine, two key criminal markets in the state. While violence and insecurity due to conflicts between criminal groups arewidespread across the nation, Guanajuato is the only state where tire repair shops have been infiltrated and systematically targeted with stunningviolence. Therefore, this article aims to explain a unique trend and elucidate a key aspect of the most violent conflict in Mexico.