They link a funeral home to the process for fraud in Ciudad Juárez

The cost of corruption in 2025

Corruption in Mexico cost an average of 3,865 pesos per citizen in 2025, Coparmex reported. The total losses are close to 17 billion pesos, according to the employer organization.

The data comes from the #DataCoparmex survey and the National Survey of Government Quality and Impact (ENCIG) of Inegi. The report warns that this phenomenon discourages investment, increases operating costs and destroys legal certainty.

40.2% of Coparmex member companies reported having been victims of corruption in the last year. The highest incidence was recorded at the municipal level with 62.2%, followed by the state level with 57.8% and the federal level with 42.8%.

The Inegi revealed 98.9% impunity in crimes that affect economic units. Practices such as bribery, extortion and unjustified delays are rarely reported or investigated.

Mexico fell to 141st place out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perception Index, with only 27 points out of 100.

Given this scenario, Coparmex reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the three levels of government on regulatory reforms and integrity mechanisms. He stressed that an effective rule of law is urgently needed to regain confidence and strengthen the country’s competitiveness.

The former United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, stated that during his administration he did not receive information about alleged payments from collaborators of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada to the licensed governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, or other state officials.

In an interview with journalist Ilia Calderón for the N+Univision program Esta Semana, the diplomat denied having support for the allegations made by the alleged criminal leader after his capture. Salazar addressed the issue in the context of the publication of his book “Borderlands. My fight for an inclusive America.”

The former official revealed that he unsuccessfully tried to contact former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to clarify that the United States had no prior knowledge or authorized operations in Mexico during Zambada’s transfer.

When questioned about the statements of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who suggested that Salazar lied, the diplomat defended his position by stating that the truth must guide the future of the bilateral relationship. Finally, he reiterated the need to strengthen the alliance of mutual trust between both countries to work in a coordinated manner on security.

The reasons behind legal forgiveness

Surprisingly, María Felicia Jiménez Lavie granted legal forgiveness to her husband, Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, former director of Pemex who was facing a trial for attacks at home.

The forgiveness was formalized through a document presented before the Control Judge, Adriana Correa Ortiz. Jiménez Lavie, an engineer of Cuban origin, expressed her desire to stop the judicial files in Morelos and Mexico City. He argued that he seeks to avoid the emotional exhaustion of his minor children and that he has achieved a genuine reconciliation.

The decision took both the Prosecutor’s Office and the defense by surprise. The evidence in the case had recently been strengthened, including a video spread on social networks that showed the physical assault that occurred last March within a subdivision of the municipality of Emiliano Zapata.

In the document, the victim indicated that continuing with the criminal investigation against her will would represent institutional revictimization, damaging the stability and dynamics of her family unit. Given this withdrawal, the judge set a hearing for this Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., in which Jiménez Lavie must formally appear to recognize his signature and ratify the writing.

If the legal procedure is completed, the former federal official would obtain his immediate release from prison to continue the process in freedom. The decision is based on the criterion of privileging the harmonious development and unity of the home.