Mexico, a Country Caught Between Mafias
The recent murders of the Uruapan mayor and the leader of the lemon growers’ guild in Michoacán highlight a shift in organized crime dynamics, where intricate extortion networks now dominate entire regions.
Mexico faces a complex situation often hidden from official statistics. While the federal government reports monthly declines in homicides and major crimes—a significant achievement after over 15 years of rising violence—extortion casts a growing shadow across the country.
Historically, drug production and trafficking were the main criminal enterprises, but today extortion schemes have become more prevalent and sophisticated. Reported extortion cases have increased in recent years, although the true scale remains larger due to widespread underreporting.
To combat this growing threat, President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration launched a targeted strategy against extortion in July, though its effectiveness is still unclear. Meanwhile, criminal groups continue to expand their influence.
“It all started with a seductive message, the idea of providing protection in exchange for security,” says Salvador Maldonado, a researcher at the College of Michoacán, specializing in violence and crime.
Summary: Mexico experiences a dangerous rise in extortion by mafias, overshadowing gains in reducing violence despite governmental efforts and increasing criminal sophistication.