Pergatuzoo Case: Mexico City Government Pressured Over Extortion Crisis

The extortion case at the Pergatuzoo shelter has escalated into the political arena of Mexico City.

Protesters marched to the headquarters of the Mexico City Attorney General's Office to demand direct intervention from Mexico City authorities, testing the local government's response capacity to a problem that originated in the State of Mexico.

The crisis at the Pergatuzoo Shelter, which is being extorted by organized crime in the State of Mexico, transcended state borders on Tuesday to become a direct political challenge to the Mexico City government. A demonstration called by shelter officials and civil society organizations took their demands to the heart of the capital's judicial and security branches, demanding concrete action and a firm stance from the city's authorities.

The march, which began at the headquarters of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) and ended at the facilities of the Attorney General's Office of Mexico City (FGJCDMX) in the Doctores neighborhood, represents a calculated strategy to raise national awareness of the case and exert political pressure on the institutions with the greatest investigative capacity and media coverage.

Although the extortion occurred in the municipality of Nicolás Romero, Edomex, the protesters directed their demands to Mexico City authorities, considering them a last resort in the face of perceived inaction at the local and state levels. Their political demands are clear:

• Case Attraction: They request that the Federal Prosecutor's Office (FGJCDMX), given its technical capacity and specialization in high-impact crimes, take over the investigation into the CJNG extortion network that affects them.
• Investigation into police complicity: They are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers in the theft of donations and harassment against the shelter, a key focus of their complaint.
• Protective measures: They demand that the Mayor, Clara Brugada, and the Secretary of Citizen Security, Pablo Vázquez Camacho, address the case and coordinate protective measures for the shelter members, who have received death threats.

The protest places the city government in a difficult position. On the one hand, the crime was committed outside its jurisdiction, which limits its ability to take direct action. On the other hand, ignoring a demonstration of this nature on its own streets and targeting its institutions could be interpreted as insensitivity or weakness, damaging the image of an administration that has made security one of its hallmarks.

Mayor Clara Brugada has promoted programs such as "Police Close to You" to strengthen citizen trust. The Pergatuzoo case, with its serious allegations of police complicity (albeit involving another entity), challenges the narrative of trust in law enforcement agencies in general.

"It's not because of xenophobia, it's because we're going to have more problems." – Quote from a neighbor in a similar protest in Mexico City, reflecting the tension these conflicts generate in local communities.

The response or silence of Mexico City authorities in the coming hours will be crucial. It will determine whether the case remains a problem for the State of Mexico or whether citizen pressure will force the capital to take on a role, even a supportive one, in the search for justice for a shelter that dared to challenge the drug traffickers.