Organized Crime Extorts Quintana Roo Officials

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The shadow of extortion, a crime historically targeting business owners and small enterprises, has expanded to a new victim: government employees in leadership and managerial positions, many of whom are too afraid to report the threats. Federal authorities have confirmed that organized crime groups are now systematically intimidating public officials, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of security strategies in the state.

A New Wave of Intimidation

Federal investigations, citing anonymous testimonies from government employees fearful of retaliation, reveal a disturbing pattern. “I don’t know if they’re serious or not, but I haven’t paid anything. Every day when I leave home, I worry something might happen to me or my family,” one source confessed.

The calls, which are repeated insistently, come from individuals identifying themselves as members of “La Plaza,” a faction linked to the Caborca Cartel. The perpetrators demonstrate detailed knowledge of their targets—names, workplaces, schedules, job titles, and even salaries—before demanding monthly payments in exchange for the safety of the victims and their families.

The same source stated that several colleagues have received similar calls at different times and locations. However, the climate of fear has led most to remain silent, perpetuating a cycle that prevents formal complaints. “Some have paid. I just block all unknown numbers,” the source added.

A Strategy to Infiltrate Government Offices

Despite the lack of official reports, federal sources confirm these extortion attempts and classify them as an initial tactic to gain control over key public administration departments. This new method directly contradicts official statistics that boast reductions in illicit activities and homicides, suggesting that government security strategies may require urgent reassessment.

Extortion has surged in recent months across multiple cities and municipalities in Quintana Roo, with reports now emerging in southern Yucatán as well.

Extortion Remains Quintana Roo’s Most Prevalent Crime

According to the National Survey on Business Victimization (ENVE) conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) last year, extortion remains the primary crime affecting businesses in Quintana Roo. Current figures for this year remain undisclosed.

The Inegi report revealed that in 2024, 2.9 million crimes were committed against 1.3 million economic units in Mexico, with an average of 2.2 crimes per affected business. In Quintana Roo, extortion and petty theft were the most common offenses, primarily impacting the commerce sector, which reported a victimization rate of 31.5%.

Medium-Sized Businesses Most Vulnerable

The Inegi report highlighted that medium-sized businesses suffered the highest crime rates at 49%. The most affected sectors were commerce, manufacturing, and services, indicating that no industry is immune to these risks.

Rising Perception of Insecurity

Nationwide, 69.4% of business owners perceived their operating regions as unsafe. In Quintana Roo, this perception is exacerbated by the high risk of transporting goods on highways.

At the national level, Guanajuato, Tabasco, and Morelos reported the highest levels of perceived insecurity and extortion, while Yucatán, Nayarit, and Coahuila recorded the lowest.