“Quintana Roo Unites to Fight Extortion: Centurion Group Leads the Charge”

The government of Quintana Roo is collaborating with business organizations to reduce both high and low impact crimes, particularly extortion. This is part of an effort to strengthen peacebuilding in the region, as stated by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa at the inauguration of the "United against Extortion" Master Conference.

Governor Lezama emphasized the importance of unity in tackling this issue. "This societal affront requires a unified effort from all levels of government, society, and the business sector. We must limit the opportunities for criminals to progress in their illicit activities," she explained.

The conference, held at TecMilenio University, was organized by the Centurion Group. This initiative brings together government and business sector collaboration, with the aim of promoting welfare and development in Quintana Roo. The governor highlighted that this model of cooperation has been successful in Cancun and will be replicated in Solidaridad, Tulum, and the capital, Chetumal. The goal is to instill trust in citizens and affected sectors through preventative campaigns and a culture of reporting crimes.

"We will not tolerate extortion in this government. We urge citizens to report crimes, as we are strengthening our institutions with intelligence, technology, and operations. This collaborative effort is crucial in our quest for peace," reiterated Governor Lezama.

The conference featured expert speakers on extortion and security issues. It aimed to promote the exchange of information, analysis, and experiences to facilitate a culture of reporting crimes. It also focused on prevention measures and the eradication of extortion, aiming to foster a better understanding of the causes and processes of this crime.

Julio Villarreal Zapata, president of CANIRAC, praised the creation of the Centurion Group. He emphasized its importance in representing a joint effort between business organizations, civil society, and authorities in combating extortion. He stressed the importance of co-responsibility in creating a safer environment and the crucial role of businesses in reporting crimes.

The head of the SSC, Julio Cesar Gomez Torres, echoed these sentiments. He shared that the Centurion Group has already made significant strides in combating extortion. In just three and a half months, 38 cases of extortion have been addressed, resulting in 29 arrests. To further combat this crime, the group has increased intelligent monitoring points with facial recognition, implemented tactical drones, and integrated business and establishment cameras into their intelligent monitoring network.

Raciel Lopez Salazar, the state Attorney General, added that 88 extortionists have been arrested, with 84% of them linked to the process.