Deputies receive presidential initiative for a law against extortion and criminal reforms

Enrique Mendez

La Jornada Newspaper
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, p. 11

Last night the Chamber of Deputies received the presidential initiative for a general law against extortion, as well as reforms to the Federal Penal Code and the National Code of Criminal Procedures to unify this crime and its modalities, such as collection of fees and bumper mount, that will be pursued ex officio or based on anonymous complaints.

It is even planned to classify the issuance of false tax receipts and smuggling as serious crimes, at a time when trafficking in fuel, merchandise and chemical precursors has increased.

In the explanatory statement, President Claudia Sheinbaum recognized that, unlike other crimes and despite the efforts of her government, from 2019 to 2025 the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System registers an increase of 20.8 in the daily average of extortions and 57.8 of the cases are concentrated in the state of Mexico, Guanajuato, Mexico City and Nuevo León.

The proposal seeks to regulate the reform of constitutional article 73, which empowers Congress to legislate on a general law and proposes punishing this crime with imprisonment of six to 15 years; It also provides three groups of 43 aggravating factors to apply the penalty.

It highlights that the modalities of this crime vary by state, which is why it proposes a basic criminal offense, whose penalty period will increase by up to a third when it comes to property damage.

Modalities

In the first category, the fact that the extortion is related to floor collection is considered as aggravating factors; the imposition of prices on products, goods or services; the use of the financial system, and when it is committed against candidates for elected office.

A second, when migrants, minors, pregnant women or older adults are extorted. Finally, a third, when there is a threat of harm to the integrity of the victim and includes the use of violence, the simulation of a traffic accident; the use of minors; that is committed by current or former public officials, or if the economy of a state is directly affected.

In addition, sanctions are provided for those around those who commit the crime, that is, those who cover them up or serve as a logistical link. Comprehensive repair of the damage must be included.

Two essential chapters are included, one to provide protection and security to victims, so that during trials they are free of intimidation and in safe conditions; and another to give special attention to the blocking of telephone, data and voice signals from prisons, as a center for extortion committed by prisoners.

The document provides that the Federation will be responsible for the investigation, prosecution and punishment of the crime because it is federal in nature, which does not exempt the state governments from their responsibility or the obligation to confront it.

The crime will be prosecuted ex officio and any victim can file an anonymous complaint on telephone number 089, without having to reveal their identity.