Mexican Senator proposes harsher penalties for digital sale of stolen auto parts

Mexican Senator Juanita Guerra Mena of the PVEM has proposed an initiative to reform the Federal Penal Code to increase penalties for the theft, possession, and sale of automotive parts. The proposal specifically seeks to increase sanctions by up to 50 percent when these illicit goods are traded through digital platforms.

Guerra Mena argued that online marketplaces facilitate immediate contact between sellers and buyers, expanding the reach of criminal activities and making it harder to combat the crime. The initiative comes in response to significant data regarding the scale of the issue. According to the Mexico City Citizen Security Secretariat, approximately 19,000 tons of auto parts were seized during operations between October 5, 2024, and May 31, 2026.

Furthermore, data from the National Survey of Victimization and Perception of Public Security (ENVIPE), conducted by Inegi, indicates a high rate of unreported crime. In 2024, the dark figure for partial vehicle theft reached 94.1 percent, representing cases that were either not reported to authorities or did not result in an official investigation.