Sonora Investigating Reports of Illegal Highway Checkpoints

By Bill Bell · On the Road in Mexico · September 23, 2026

Some encouraging news for those of us who love travelling Mexico’s highways.

Several Mexican news outlets reported on September 22 and 23 that Sonora authorities are investigating alleged illegal checkpoints and demands for money from travellers. The coverage includes Highway 15 and reports involving the Hermosillo and San Luis Río Colorado areas.

According to N+, UnoTV and Infobae, Sonora’s prosecutor’s office is working with federal and state security agencies to locate these checkpoints and identify the people involved. Some complaints involve individuals claiming to be federal investigators. Whether they actually belong to the FGR remains something investigators need to establish.

Authorities say legitimate checkpoints should have clearly identified personnel and official identification signs, including QR codes that allow travellers to verify information.

Governor Alfonso Durazo also cautioned that videos circulating online are a mixture: some document real incidents, while others are older or come from elsewhere. That makes dates, locations and firsthand accounts particularly valuable.

For our 88,000 members of On the Road in Mexico, this is welcome news. We recognise the need for legitimate security checks. Our concern is intimidation, missing belongings and demands for money—the very issues raised in our letter.

The investigation was announced before our letter was sent, so I’m certainly not claiming credit. But it is encouraging to see these concerns being publicly acknowledged.

An investigation is a beginning. These reports do not yet confirm arrests or that the problem has been resolved. We’ll be looking for concrete results that make highway travel more comfortable for everyone—Mexican residents and visitors alike.

Bill Bell
On the Road in Mexico

News sources

• N+: Fiscalía de Sonora investiga presencia de retenes falsos en carreteras del estado — September 22, 2026.
• UnoTV: Investigan falsos retenes por extorsión a paisanos en carreteras de Hermosillo y San Luis Río Colorado — September 23, 2026.
• Infobae: Autoridades federales y estatales investigan retenes ilegales en carreteras de Sonora — September 23, 2026.