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Mexico City Authorities Sign Pact Against Extortion, Launching New Support Center
🇲🇽 Mexico /Conflict & Security

Mexico City Authorities Sign Pact Against Extortion, Launching New Support Center

From El Universal · (2d ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Mexico City authorities, led by Mayor Clara Brugada, have signed a Pact Against Extortion to combat the crime more effectively.
  • The pact includes the creation of a new immediate attention center for victims and enhanced intelligence and financial investigation measures.
  • Since November 2024, 335 individuals have been arrested for extortion in the capital, marking a 45% increase, though a significant underreporting of the crime persists due to fear.

In a significant move to address the pervasive issue of extortion, Mexico City's Head of Government, Clara Brugada, alongside various societal sectors, has officially signed the Pact Against Extortion. This collective commitment introduces a suite of new measures aimed at bolstering the fight against this crime within the capital, prominently featuring the establishment of a dedicated center for immediate victim support. Brugada emphasized that this pact aligns with a broader national strategy initiated by the federal government, framing it as a crucial step towards collective action.

Tenemos que partir de una realidad: el delito de extorsión no es retomado por la ciudadanía fácilmente para su denuncia, porque la ciudadanía tiene miedo.

— Clara BrugadaThe Head of Government acknowledges the fear that prevents citizens from reporting extortion cases, highlighting the challenge of underreporting.

The signing ceremony, held at the Contemporary Mexico Cultural Center, underscored the pact's goal of uniting different segments of society to "close ranks," break the silence surrounding extortion, and foster a stronger sense of community in the face of a crime that thrives on isolation. Brugada highlighted the progress made since the campaign against extortion began in November 2024, noting that 335 arrests have been made, representing a 45% increase compared to previous periods. However, she candidly acknowledged the persistent problem of underreporting, attributing it to the pervasive fear that prevents citizens from coming forward.

Tenemos que partir de una realidad: el delito de extorsión no es retomado por la ciudadanía fácilmente para su denuncia, porque la ciudadanía tiene miedo.

— Clara BrugadaThe Head of Government acknowledges the fear that prevents citizens from reporting extortion cases, highlighting the challenge of underreporting.

To bolster these efforts, the Secretary of Citizen Security (SSC), Pablo Vázquez Camacho, announced the forthcoming creation of an Anti-Extortion Attention Center. This center will integrate advanced intelligence, patrimonial, and financial investigation capabilities to detect illicit operations linked to extortion. Furthermore, a robust system for the support and protection of victims, whistleblowers, and witnesses will be implemented. Complementing these measures, the capital's prosecutor, Bertha Alcalde Luján, unveiled plans for a Proximity Criminalistics Unit – an "immediate reaction" team designed to deploy directly to victims' locations, eliminating the need for them to travel to the Public Ministry and thereby easing the reporting process.

Tenemos que partir de una realidad: el delito de extorsión no es retomado por la ciudadanía fácilmente para su denuncia, porque la ciudadanía tiene miedo.

— Clara BrugadaThe Head of Government acknowledges the fear that prevents citizens from reporting extortion cases, highlighting the challenge of underreporting.
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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