Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Authorities say a majority of the 64 cases of extortion and virtual kidnapping recorded around the state have originated from prisons. During a recent Security Cabinet conference at the C5 in Cancun, the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) reported on the 64 cases so far this year.
The FGE revealed that a majority of those phone extortions and virtual kidnappings originate from prisons in other states. Information from the FGE detailed that of the 64 complaints filed with the Public Ministry 48 were for telephone extortion in which those responsible contacted businesses to demand payment for “floor rights.”
When the victims reported the extortion attempt to police, they stated that the calls were made to demand money in exchange for supposed protection. The caller attempted to intimidate them saying they were from a criminal group. However, upon verifying the origin of the numbers, police confirmed the calls were being made from other states in Mexico.
The other 16 cases were for virtual kidnappings where the victims were coerced into leaving their homes under threats and taken to other locations such shopping centers, supermarkets and public parks where money was demanded for their safe return.
In these cases, authorities indicated that after receiving reports, police operations were carried out and all 16 people safely located. Authorities confirmed that the majority of extortion and virtual kidnapping calls into Quintana Roo are made from Mexican prisons.
The Mexican prisons known for the most extortion calls into Quintana Roo include Mexico City, Altamira, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. Police are working in collaboration with authorities in these cities to investigate the calls.
During Quintana Roo prison raids by police, cell phones are one of the most found contraband held by prisoners. In February, authorities paid a surprise visit to the Cozumel prison, confiscating prisoner privileges that ranged from refrigerators to cigarettes, jewelry, music, a television, electronics, grills, a microwave oven, cell phones, tools, sex toys, cologne, a toy gun and drugs.
