“In Colima, the only thing more explosive than the nearby volcano is the unrest erupting in its streets.”
Welcome to Colima — a city where murder rates have eclipsed even the most notorious war zones. Tucked along Mexico’s western coast in the state of the same name, Colima has earned a grim distinction: the murder capital of the world. For two years running, it has topped global rankings for homicide rates, surpassing infamous strongholds of violence with staggering margins.
But what lies at the heart of Colima’s lethal reputation? What turned a beautiful state known for its biodiversity, agriculture, and volcanic vistas into a maelstrom of cartel brutality, governmental failure, and systemic collapse?
Let’s unravel the threads of Colima’s violent transformation — one shaped by geography, history, political policy, and a global drug trade that funnels billions of dollars through this small but critical region.
A Snapshot of Bloodshed
In 2024, Colima recorded 140.32 murders per 100,000 people, outpacing the next most dangerous city, Ciudad Obregón, by a significant margin. For context, even the tenth-ranked city in Mexico, Juárez, posted a murder rate of just 77.43 — nearly half of Colima’s.
The situation isn’t just dangerous; it’s apocalyptic. Colima is not merely leading the pack — it’s outclassing every competitor on the global stage for urban violence.
And the numbers get worse.
In 2022, Mexico’s Citizens Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice published a list ranking the 50 most violent cities in the world. Colima topped that list with a murder rate of 181.94 per 100,000 residents — eerily similar to the rate in Medellín, Colombia, at the height of Pablo Escobar’s reign.
Colima’s Forgotten Past: From Palm City to Cartel Hub
Colima wasn’t always like this.
In 2006, the region had a murder rate of just 5 per 100,000. Far from its current infamy, Colima was then better known as the City of Palms, a peaceful agricultural and industrial hub home to lush biodiversity. Its fertile soil and tropical climate supported a thriving economy rooted in fruit and palm fiber production. Nature reserves dotted the landscape, housing a third of all bird species and a quarter of all mammals in Mexico.
The port city of Manzanillo, Colima’s strategic neighbor, only added to the region’s value — becoming Mexico’s largest Pacific-side port and a cornerstone of international trade. But with access came vulnerability.
Colima and Manzanillo sit on one of the most lucrative drug routes in the world, a geographic curse that would shape the future of both cities.
A Legacy of Violence: A Historical Context
Colima’s legacy of conflict dates back centuries.
From ancient indigenous tribal wars to the Spanish conquest in 1523, Colima has long been a battleground. Under Spanish rule, the region was developed for trade, linking Colima to Mexico City via land and using Manzanillo’s port to transport silver and other resources across the globe.
When Mexico gained independence in 1810, Colima became an official state in 1857. By the early 1900s, the Mexican Revolution brought new waves of political instability to the region. It wasn’t until the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) gained control in the 1920s that Colima began to stabilize — at least for a time.
But as global demand for narcotics grew, so did cartel interest in Colima. By the late 20th century, Colima and Manzanillo had become essential nodes in a global drug network, smuggling cocaine, meth, and — most recently — fentanyl into the United States.
Colima’s Perfect Storm: Geography, Gangs, and Global Markets
Let’s get one thing straight: Colima is dangerous because it’s profitable.
The port of Manzanillo is the gateway for massive shipments of precursor chemicals from China and India — the raw materials for manufacturing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
These drugs are manufactured in clandestine Mexican labs and shipped to U.S. cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco, where profits skyrocket. One gram of fentanyl can fetch $25 or more, and an addict might need a dose every few hours. The numbers add up quickly.
And the demand? Seemingly endless.
As a result, control over Colima and Manzanillo is paramount. Currently, three major cartels vie for dominance:
-
The Sinaloa Cartel (El Chapo’s network)
-
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — the most dominant today
-
Los Zetas — known for ruthless brutality
Colima isn’t just a city. It’s a battleground for billion-dollar supply chains. And in this war, the people pay the highest price.
Failed Policies and the Rise of the Hydra
In 2006, then-President Felipe Calderón declared war on the cartels. His strategy: full militarization, cross-border cooperation, and high-value arrests.
It failed.
The murder rate didn’t drop. Cartels fractured, splintering into hundreds of smaller, more unpredictable factions. Colima’s crime rate tripled by 2020.
In 2018, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) reversed course, proposing the controversial “hugs, not bullets” policy — offering amnesty, social programs, and withdrawal of armed forces in hopes of de-escalation.
That failed too.
Cartels took over towns, installed their own systems of governance, and continued expanding. Colima suffered deeply from this void of law enforcement.
Today, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico has returned to a more aggressive stance. But will it work this time?
The Global Web of Crime
Colima’s tragedy isn’t a Mexico-only problem.
The fentanyl precursors come from China and India. Cocaine is sourced from Colombia. Weapons used by cartels often come from the United States. And users? Found in every corner of the globe.
If Colima is to be saved, it will require:
-
Tight regulation of international drug precursors
-
Port security reform in Manzanillo
-
Crackdowns on arms smuggling
-
Community investment to end the cycle of poverty
-
A coordinated, international anti-cartel strategy
Can Colima Be Saved?
Colima has all the elements of a city worth saving:
-
A rich cultural heritage
-
Stunning natural beauty
-
Strategic economic importance
But as long as drug profits eclipse legal income and as long as cartels control the streets, peace will remain a distant dream.
To change Colima is to fix the global supply chain of drugs, the poverty that fuels criminal recruitment, and the corruption that undermines law enforcement. This is not a quick fix. It is a long war — one that must be fought with strategy, courage, and global collaboration.
Until then, Colima remains a brutal reflection of what happens when money, drugs, and power collide unchecked.
FAQ: Colima and the Cartel Crisis
Q: Where is Colima located?
A: Colima is a city and state on Mexico’s western coast, directly west of Mexico City. It borders the Pacific Ocean and includes the port city of Manzanillo.
Q: Why is Colima so dangerous?
A: Colima sits along a key drug route, making it a strategic target for cartels. Battles over control, coupled with weak governance and high poverty, have made it the most violent city in the world.
Q: Which cartels are active in Colima?
A: Three major cartels operate here: the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG (currently in control), and Los Zetas.
Q: What role does the port of Manzanillo play?
A: Manzanillo is Mexico’s largest Pacific port and the entry point for chemicals used to produce synthetic drugs like fentanyl.
Q: Has the Mexican government tried to fix the issue?
A: Yes, but past efforts like military interventions and amnesty programs have largely failed or backfired, leading to more violence.
Q: What needs to change to improve Colima’s situation?
A: International cooperation, local economic investment, stricter port controls, and smarter anti-cartel strategies are essential.
