More Money, More Problems? Security Spending in Mexico Jumps Amid Rising Violence David Gagne - Insight Crime
go to original May 16, 2017

New Report Ranks Mexico as One of World’s Deadliest Conflict Zones (CGTN America)

Mexico's federal government reportedly spent 23 times more on public and national security than last year's budget allowed, but there is no public information on where any of that money is going - or what kind of impact it's having on rising levels of crime and violence.

Mexico's Congress allotted the federal government just 796 million pesos (roughly $41.6 million) in 2016 for budget item 33701, which corresponds to "public and national security expenses." But according to a report by Animal Político, government expenditures classified as 33701 surpassed 18.5 billion pesos - nearly $1 billion.

Although the government routinely outspends its mandated limit on security, 2016 was an outlier. (See graphic below. Figures are in thousands of US dollars.)



According to Animal Político, spending costs have far exceeded the congressional budget for "public and national security expenses" in every year since at least 2013, the first full year of President Enrique Peña Nieto's term. In 2015, for example, Congress approved only $30 million for national and public safety items. The government spent over $446 million.

During the first four years of Peña Nieto's administration, Congress allocated approximately $152 million for security under 33701, but government outlays topped $2 billion (all dollar figures are calcuated using current exchange rates). Animal Político reported that the money has gone to eight separate government agencies, with the Interior Ministry receiving the largest share of funds between 2013 and 2015, and the National Defense Ministry receiving the most last year.

How this money is being spent is clouded in secrecy. According to Animal Político, each agency assigns the funds to broad categories such as "intelligence services" or "crime prevention operations." But the government says it is legally prohibited from providing more details since these items are marked for "national and public security."

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