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Mexican truckers block roads nationwide protesting extortion and insecurity
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Mexican truckers block roads nationwide protesting extortion and insecurity

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Mexican transport organization AMOTAC blocked roads across several states to protest extortion and insecurity.
  • Truckers are demanding modifications to regulations concerning water transport and are frustrated by a lack of progress in negotiations.
  • The protests caused significant traffic disruptions, affecting thousands of drivers and raising concerns among authorities.

Members of the Mexican Alliance of Transportation Organizations (AMOTAC) have initiated a nationwide protest, blocking key roads and highways in various states to denounce the rampant extortion and insecurity they face.

The demonstrations, which began early in the morning, saw AMOTAC members gather on highways, including the Matehuala highway in San Luis Potosí. They are specifically protesting sanctions applied to water transport and are calling for changes to current regulations. Despite multiple meetings, including one held the previous day, AMOTAC president Raúl Torres stated that no agreements have been reached.

Despite there having been three meetings to establish agreements, including one still yesterday, no agreement has been reached.

— Raúl TorresPresident of AMOTAC, commenting on the lack of progress in negotiations with authorities.

In Veracruz, similar protests partially blocked roads and avenues in areas like Xalapa and Córdoba. These actions have caused significant traffic jams, leaving thousands of motorists stranded for hours. Isidro Mendoza Argüelles, the AMOTAC delegate in Xalapa, highlighted the severe insecurity on the roads and the murders of drivers as key reasons for the protest.

The protests are expected to continue, with a planned caravan on the Matehuala highway set to merge with the federal highway 57, heading towards the Industrial Zone. Authorities and motorists are on alert due to the potential for further disruption.

The high levels of insecurity on the highway, as well as the murders of drivers.

— Isidro Mendoza ArgüellesAMOTAC delegate in Xalapa, denouncing the reasons for the protest.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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