The organization indicates that the amounts requested by extortionists in exchange for not causing damage to their business premises or their physical integrity range from 1,000 to 5,000 pesos per month, however, amounts greater than 6,000 pesos increased, passing 2.1% in the last quarter of 2021 to 23.5% in the first quarter of 2022.
They go to the neighborhood store
The Canaco Servytur reports that every quarter a survey is carried out among the established merchants of the 16 municipalities to learn about the behavior of the criminal phenomenon and its economic impact on the sector, so its figures are independent of those reported by the Secretariat itself. Executive of the National Security System.
Among the crimes under study are assault and robbery with and without violence, while extortion or the collection of flat rights have a special treatment, since in this phenomenon it presents an important black figure for those who do not report.
In an interview, the leader of the formal commerce sector pointed out that after making complaints to the authorities and the media about extortion of restaurants in the Polanco area, the hills of Chapultepec, Coyoacán, Santa Fe, San Ángel and the Center of Mexico City, the authorities took action on the matter and reinforced surveillance.
However, the criminals moved to other municipalities where they ask for smaller amounts from a greater number of neighborhood businesses such as convenience stores, groceries, pharmacies, cafeterias, inns, among other businesses.
There are losses in the first quarter of 2022 of 12 million 286,663 pesos for extortion or collection of floor rights.
Jesús Rodríguez Cárdenas, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism.
Regarding this crime, the Secretary of Citizen Security of the City, Omar García Harfuch, admitted before the Canaco that the increase in this crime is recognized, but that work is being done to combat extortion.
One of the actions, he said, is to implement operations inside the capital’s prisons to seize cell phones with which said crime is coordinated from the cells.
He also indicated that there are specialized personnel in crisis management and negotiation to provide support to those who report extortion. Which is aligned to four objectives:
- Strengthen bonds of trust and improve the perception of businessmen and merchants towards the capital’s police.
- Provide advice on crisis management and follow-up of complaints.
- Reduce the incidence of this type of crime by arresting members and neutralizing the criminal groups that commit them.
- Establish protection mechanisms in favor of victims or affected persons.
