In the remote hills of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, the distinctive aroma of roasted agave wafts from traditional wood-fired, open-pit stone ovens. This fragrance represents not just culture, but success. In 2025, Mexico produced 7.7 million bottles of mezcal, highlighting growth compared to production a decade prior.
I recently visited a distillery in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca, gaining appreciation for mezcal’s journey from the stills of this isolated mountain town to U.S. destinations over 750 miles away. Mezcal is a renowned Mexican elixir.
However, this success faces threats from violent criminal groups. Mexico is identified as the highest risk country for cargo truck hijacking. Roads from Oaxaca’s mountain towns through central Mexico pose significant risks. In September 2024, an armed robbery hijacked a truck carrying Monte Alban mezcal on the Mexico-Tuxpan highway near Zempoala. In July 2025, thieves stole a truck with 9,000 bottles of premium spirits worth $1.3 million in Guanajuato. Again, on July 6, a truck with 64 tons of alcohol bottles fell victim to hijackers in Hidalgo.
These incidents are part of a broader trend. Criminal groups target shipments of mezcal and tequila due to ease of resale in informal markets. While Oaxaca is not yet a major hijacking focus, mezcal shipments face increased risk moving north through hotspots like Puebla, Mexico State, Michoacan, Jalisco, and Guanajuato. Puebla’s role as a crossing point for U.S.-bound bottles is particularly troubling.
Local authorities and residents in Puebla collude with criminal groups to conceal stolen goods and obstruct investigations. A similar pattern emerges in states surrounding Mexico City. Data from the Mexico Cargo Truck Hijacking Data Portal by Reliance Partners shows more than 79% of all hijackings occur in Mexico State and Puebla.
Despite these risks, mezcal’s U.S. sales surge contributes to approximately 20,000 trucks crossing into the U.S. in 2025. The global mezcal market is projected to exceed $1 billion by the early 2030s. Oaxaca, producing 90% of Mexico’s mezcal, remains a craft beacon amidst industrial tequila production.
Mezcal is crucial for Oaxaca, the third poorest Mexican state, attracting only $5 million in foreign investment in 2025 from Mexico’s record $41 billion haul. On average, nearly $1 million worth of goods is lost daily due to cargo robberies in Mexico. Estimates suggest nearly 50 cargo trucks are hijacked each day. In June, the Mexican Association of Transport Organizations protested to spotlight this highway robbery issue.
President Claudia Sheinbaum reduced overall violence since her term began in late 2024. However, allegations persist about her Morena party’s politicians collaborating with criminals. Governors of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Mexico State, members of Morena, face scrutiny as potential collaborators. Addressing these criminal groups might necessitate probing local politicians.
Oaxaca’s mezcal industry must safely transport its products to maintain success. A stolen truckload of mezcal could financially cripple artisan producers. Ensuring the security of mezcal shipments is critical to preserving its growth and reputation in high-end U.S. venues. Political commitment against hijacking rings and enhancing highway safety are vital for ongoing mezcal prosperity.
Mark Vickers serves as executive vice president and head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners.
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