Narco violence in Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico: media versus official data

The Juárez, Chihuahua-El Paso, Texas metroplex is a potent illegal drug smuggling corridor into the U.S. This has had dramatic effects on the types and levels of violence experienced particularly in Juárez for the last several decades. This project examines gun violence episodes related to the drug trade in that city from 2019 to 2020 using a distinct media-based framework. We use descriptive Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to compare comprehensive media coverage of ‘ataques armados’ (firearm-related attacks) and official criminal justice agency data on these events in Juarez. Results contribute to the growing research literature on Mexican narco-based violence, and the reliability of official and unofficial Mexican crime data. We find a high level of agreement between the two data sources, and discuss the implications of this finding.