Mexico (AFP) – The unit specialized in searching for the missing in Mexico City had a hectic night: seven of the 14 reports received ended with people located safely. The pause is brief, they continue working.
First modification: 10/11/2026 - 13:05
In a country with more than 130,000 reports of disappearance, the capital is betting on a new model that challenges a recurring criticism from groups of relatives of missing persons: the delay in launching searches, the bureaucratic entanglement in reporting, the lack of empathy and even mistreatment by authorities.
An AFP team visited the search center in Mexico City, which is now one year old. It brings together agents from the commission for missing persons, specialized prosecutors and police in one place to initiate action as soon as a report is filed. The process accelerates the start of the search: the first hours are key.
Edith breathes a sigh of relief after recovering her 16-year-old niece, missing for 72 hours. The authorities reserve the details of the case.
"They helped me recover my niece who is under my care," says the woman, who avoids giving her last name. "They took great care of me."
The situation in Mexico City does not reach the dimensions of states such as Tamaulipas and Jalisco, the most critical due to the presence of violent drug cartels. It totals about 5,000 cases, not always linked to a pattern of crime.
In the past, the process to file a complaint began with finding which of the numerous offices of the capital's prosecutor's office to file the complaint, which was attended to by an overworked agent who saw robberies, homicides or street fights.
"Exceeds standards"
This center operates 24 hours a day. It is a large site with renovated facilities. It has a room with eight gigantic screens capable of showing relatives images from the capital's million security cameras, which store up to a month of recordings.
It has comfortable waiting and rest rooms with large armchairs and sofa beds for family members who wait for news for hours. They are offered water and food and there are areas for children to play.
"It exceeds pre-established standards and protocols" in Mexico, says Luis Gómez, the capital's search commissioner.
It is "a single access door for the search, which reduces time, speeds up, and simplifies for family members," he adds. "The cases receive attention with all resources immediately. We locate 50% of the people in the first 24 hours."
Compared to 2024, this is a 68% increase in resolved cases.
Gómez highlights specialized personnel to deal with these sensitive cases, such as social workers, psychologists and lawyers with experience in the field. "They must understand the situation a family is going through," he explains.
National influence
Mexico City is also coordinating with seven states in the center of the country to launch joint searches if the probable place of the disappearance is one of them. Thus, family members should not travel without knowing where to report.
This center in the capital is also seen as a model by other states and has received visits from officials from other regions.
At the national level, President Claudia Sheinbaum asked to digitize search files and expand a DNA bank. Since May, a search coordination center has also been operating under the command of its Ministry of the Interior, which mobilizes federal forces and coordinates with state authorities.
"The moment a disappearance is reported, alerts are immediately generated," said the president, who promoted reforms to eliminate the 72 hours expected to launch the search.
Pedro Pérez is waiting for the search file for his daughter Linda, 14 years old. Her mother took her after losing custody in a family violence case. A psychologist rushes to finish it to spread it on the media and social networks.
"They have been very human, very empathetic," says Pérez with a broken voice. "I thought I was going to do several laps and no, everything is today."
The girl still hasn't shown up.
© 2026 AFP
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