Eight states account for 66% of extortion cases in Mexico: Harfuch announces priority in federal strategy
Extortion has become one of the crimes of greatest concern to citizens and authorities in Mexico. This crime affects both merchants and families in several regions of the country, generating fear, economic loss, and in some cases forced displacement. According to Omar García Harfuch, head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection ( SSPC ), eight states account for 66% of the extortion cases registered nationwide, which is why the new National Strategy against Extortion focuses its efforts on these states.
During the presentation of this strategy, Harfuch highlighted the importance of inter-institutional collaboration between federal, state, and municipal forces to reduce the rates of this crime, which, in addition to harming direct victims, strengthens criminal organizations that use it as a source of income for their illicit activities.
Although García Harfuch did not name the eight states during his public address, statistics from agencies such as the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System and civil society organizations agree that the states with the highest number of extortion complaints in recent months are:
- State of Mexico
- Guanajuato
- Jalisco
- Veracruz
- Michoacán
- Mexico City
- Warrior
- Puebla
These regions have high crime rates and the presence of criminal groups that resort to extortion as a daily means of financing, threatening merchants, transporters, business owners, and even families with "derecho de piso" (floor fees).
According to Harfuch, the strategy presented by the SSPC is based on four main axes:
- Prevention : Through information campaigns aimed at citizens so they know how to identify and report extortion calls and messages, reducing the psychological and economic impact of the crime.
- Intelligence : Strengthening criminal analysis capabilities to identify patterns, phone numbers, and groups behind extortion, as well as improving tracking of the flow of money obtained from this crime.
- Coordination : Increased cooperation between federal agencies and state governments to share information, conduct joint operations, and strengthen local prosecutors' offices.
- Judicialization : ensuring that reported cases are investigated and brought to court, combating the impunity that currently fuels the continuation of this crime.
In his message, Harfuch emphasized that extortion is one of the most damaging crimes for Mexican society, as it creates a climate of terror that restricts economic activity and disrupts the daily lives of entire communities. He stated that the federal government has identified hot spots in the most affected states and that the priority will be to significantly reduce the rates of this crime in the short and medium term.
The official also highlighted that in several regions, extortion is driven by organized crime groups that diversify their sources of income, so the strategy against this crime will be linked to actions to weaken these criminal organizations.
Federal authorities called on citizens to report any extortion attempts, as fear or distrust of institutions often prevents cases from being reported, fueling the cycle of impunity. They reminded citizens that the national hotline 089 allows anonymous reporting and that state prosecutors' offices and the National Guard have specialized units to address this crime.
They also stressed the importance of not providing personal information to strangers and avoiding giving in to threats received via phone or text messages, practices that criminal groups use to intimidate without needing to be physically close to their victims.
The confirmation that eight states account for 66% of extortion cases in Mexico reflects the urgency of effective strategies to curb this crime, which affects the security and economic well-being of thousands of families. The new National Strategy against Extortion , announced by Omar García Harfuch, seeks to reduce these rates through coordinated actions, police intelligence, and greater citizen participation, with the goal of restoring trust and peace in the communities hardest hit by this crime.
La Verdad Yucatán
