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Sonoran City To Be Part Of Federal Effort To Reduce Extreme Violence

Sonora’s second-largest city, and one of the country’s most violent, will be getting more federal attention.

Over roughly the last two years, there have been more than 700 murders in Cajeme, earning it an unenviable eighth place on a list of Mexico’s 15 most violent municipalities, according to recently presented federal data.

Ciudad Obregón is the largest city there. Together, the 15 cities accounted for over a quarter of murders during that period.

“Per the instructions of the president, a specific program will be undertaken for these municipalities,” said Ricardo Mejia, security sub secretary.

Working with state and local authorities, he said strategies will include focusing on high-crime neighborhoods, targeting drug dealing and extortion rackets, and police training. There will also be efforts to specifically reduce femicide.

Murphy Woodhouse was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2018 to 2023.