Mexico Extortion Cases Rise as Police and Gangs Target Residents and Businesses

A resident of an unnamed Mexican city described being stopped by officers near an Uber at about 11pm. The officers placed two plastic bags containing an unidentified powder and crystals in his possession, then drove him through the city for several hours while threatening him and taking roughly $870 from his accounts before releasing him.

The same resident said the officers warned him against filing a complaint, stating that someone inside any police station would notify them. He added that the incident left him reluctant to report crimes or pass police checkpoints.

Official figures show reported extortion cases nearly doubled from 2016 to 2025. In the first four months of 2026, nearly 3,600 cases were recorded nationwide. Authorities estimate that only 0.2 percent of incidents are reported, citing fear of reprisals.

The crime is estimated to cost the economy about 0.04 percent of GDP, or nearly $900 million, each year. Both wealthy business owners and street vendors have been required to pay monthly fees to criminal groups or, in some cases, to local officials.

A national strategy against extortion began last July and has produced more than 1,300 arrests. A separate operation targeting corruption among local officials has led to the detention of more than 70 officials, at least five of whom were later convicted on extortion charges.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has proposed a constitutional change that would classify extortion as a federal crime, allowing prosecutors to open cases without a formal complaint from victims. Officials have also noted that some local authorities collect payments either in coordination with criminal groups or independently.

A bishop in Cuernavaca publicly described demands of $10 per family member per month in one town, an amount equal to roughly two-thirds of the daily minimum wage. In a nearby city, vendors were reported to be paying fees to two separate groups simultaneously.