Defense minister responds to US anti-drone border operations: Friday’s mañanera recapped

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds 📉 Zacatecas homicides down 85%: National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa reported an average of 0.17 homicides per day in Zacatecas in August, an 85% reduction compared to September 2024, the final month of the López Obrador administration. The 2026 daily average is down 96% versus 2021. 🚔 Thousands arrested since Sheinbaum took office: Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said 3,824 people were arrested in Zacatecas between October 2024 and August 2026 for high-impact crimes. He said that 1,240 firearms and 7.3 tonnes of drugs were seized in the same period, while six meth labs were dismantled. 💰 Atizapán killings tied to money demand: García Harfuch said one of two men arrested over the multiple homicide in México state had a “commercial relationship” with victim Jonathan Meléndez and had been demanding money from him before the killings. 🇲🇽🇺🇸 Defense minister addresses cartel drone reports: Responding to a Fox News report on U.S. operations against cartel drones at the border, Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said the drones are mostly used by migrant smugglers to scout routes free of authorities. He didn’t confirm or deny Mexican military involvement in the U.S. takedown operations. Why today’s mañanera matters President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Friday morning press conference in Guadalupe, a municipality that is part of the metropolitan area of Zacatecas city. She was accompanied by Zacatecas Governor David Monreal and various members of her cabinet, including Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez and Security Minister Omar García Harfuch. Among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, Zacatecas has recorded one of the largest reductions in homicides this year. At today’s mañanera, officials presented the latest security data for the state — statistics that allowed them to portray Zacatecas as an example of the success of the federal government’s national security strategy. Also of note at today’s mañanera was García Harfuch’s remarks about the motive for a multiple homicide in México state. Government reports 85% decline in homicides in Zacatecas National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa reported that there was an average of 0.17 homicides per day in Zacatecas in August, a reduction of 85% compared to September 2024, the final month of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency. National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa shared data on Zacatecas’ declining homicide rate. (Presidencia) She said that the daily homicide rate so far this year is 0.2, a reduction of 50% compared to 2025. Figueroa highlighted that the daily homicide rate in 2026 is down 96% compared to 2021, when an average of 4.5 murders per day were committed in Zacatecas. In the first seven months of 2026, there were 51 homicides in Zacatecas, the eighth lowest total among Mexico’s 32 federal entities. More than 3,800 arrests in Zacatecas since October 2024 According to data presented by García Harfuch, 3,824 people were arrested in Zacatecas between Oct. 1, 2024 — the date Sheinbaum was sworn in as president — and Aug. 31, 2026, for allegedly committing high-impact crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, extortion and violent robbery. He also reported that 1,240 firearms and 7.3 tonnes of drugs were seized in the state in the same period. In addition, authorities dismantled six clandestine methamphetamine labs in Zacatecas, García Harfuch said. photo-harfuch He acknowledged that “there is still a lot to be done” to improve security in Zacatecas, noting that rival criminal groups continue to fight turf wars in the state. García Harfuch said that federal authorities are “maintaining and strengthening” intelligence and investigation “actions” in the state as well as “territorial presence” and “coordination” with state and municipal authorities. The aim, he said, is to detain “generators of violence” in Zacatecas. García Harfuch subsequently noted that three people were arrested in connection with a car bomb explosion outside a municipal police station in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, last Sunday night. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch shared data on arrests in Zacatecas and provided an update on the case of a México state multi-homicide that targeted a well-known musician and his family. (Presidencia) García Harfuch: Multiple homicide in México state related to a demand for money García Harfuch said that one of two men arrested in connection with a multiple homicide in México state this week had a “commercial relationship” with one of the victims, namely Jonathan Meléndez, keyboard player with the well-known band Camilo Séptimo. The security minister was referring to Diego Sebastián Rosen Ferlini, an Argentine national who was detained in connection with the murders of Mélendez, his pregnant wife, their three-year-old daughter and a domestic worker. The victims were found dead in an apartment in the municipality of Atizapán de Zaragoza late Tuesday. Asked how much money the alleged murderer was demanding from Mélendez, García Harfuch responded: “I don’t know but I’ll ask the [México state] Attorney General’s Office. What is a fact is that he was demanding money. There was a demand, there were certain threats and this terrible multiple homicide was committed.” Defense minister: People smugglers use drones to locate routes that are ‘free’ of US authorities A reporter asked the president whether she could confirm the “participation” of Mexican authorities in U.S. operations to take down suspected cartel drones at the Mexico-U.S. border. His question was related to a Fox News report that was published on Thursday. Citing a senior U.S. War Department official, Fox reported that the U.S. military “took down ‘approximately 100′ suspected cartel drones in August alone” at the United States’ southern border. Citing the same official, Fox wrote that “each operation was planned and closely coordinated with the Mexican military and border authorities to prevent interference or unintended conflicts between forces operating on either side of the border.” Operation Ardent Vanguard Update 11 cartel drones defeated by the Army’s Multipurpose High Energy Laser as of Sep. 4. More than 300 defeats using kinetic and non-kinetic systems this year, with more than 100 occurring in August. “JTF Southern Border’s combined arms approach… pic.twitter.com/KexEOvgM9D — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) September 4, 2026 Sheinbaum referred the reporter’s question to her defense minister. “Firstly I want to highlight that the relationship with the armed forces of the United States has been very good, very positive,” Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said. He said that U.S. authorities have informed the Mexican government that drones are mainly used in the border region by people who smuggle migrants into the United States. “They are commercial drones. They only capture images … and what they’re seeking to find are routes that are free, where there is no presence of [U.S.] authorities,” Trevilla said. The defense minister didn’t confirm or deny Fox’s reporting that the Mexican military was involved in the planning of U.S. operations to take down drones.