Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Local authorities are working to combat extortion, a fundamental issue across Mexico. In Quintana Roo, extortion undermines the security of restaurants, construction, the business sector and society itself.
On Wednesday, Raciel López Salazar, state prosecutor and head of the State Attorney General’s Office, reported on recent training. He said 181 public servants in Quintana Roo have been trained in combating extortion.
López Salazar closed the three-day Specialized Multidisciplinary Course for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Extortion Wednesday during a certificate ceremony.
Quintana Roo public servants who participated in the three day course included investigative police officers, experts, prosecutors and public ministers.
“Extortion is a fundamental issue that requires immediate attention in the country and Quintana Roo is no exception,” said López Salazar.
“It is a crime that undermines the security of restaurants, the construction sector, the business sector and of course, society itself. That is why since my arrival at the Prosecutor’s Office, we have focused on strengthening communication and trust with all social sectors so that they report it if they are victims of this crime.”
He emphasized the importance of a genuine institutional commitment to legality, justice and the protection of citizens.
“The professionalism and experience of the instructors in addressing such a sensitive and relevant topic are fundamental to the success of the training for public servants.”
Public servants around the state received their training from Rommel Moreno Manjarrez, General Coordinator of the Project to Combat Impunity in the State of Quintana Roo Against the Crime of Extortion.
Moreno Manjarrez pointed out that in recent years, extortion has become a major scourge in Mexico, something that affects countless families.
“Today we are at a historic moment, not only in the fight against crime on all fronts at the federal and state levels, but also because the executive branch has implemented a national strategy against the crime of extortion.”
He added that in combating extortion, 291 people (extortionists) have been arrested of whom 92 percent were brought to trial. A conviction is a sentence of up to 37 years.
Other lecturers included Leticia Aguiar, Coordinator of the Implementation of the Anti-Extortion System of the Mexico SOS Foundation; Ma. del Carmen Holguin, Representative Instructor of the Institute of Legal Research of the UNAM and Patricia González Rodríguez, Representative Instructor of the Institute of Legal Research of the UNAM.
Extortion in the form of threats of physical harm and/ or business damage is an ongoing problem across Mexico. Last week, five people were arrested for extorting an Isla Mujeres beach front business. Four of the five arrested were employees from a hotel across from the business they extorted.
