Mexico Security Secretary
Criminal organizations across Mexico have increasingly diversified their revenue streams, incorporating kidnapping and extortion into their operations. These groups demand payments from residents and business owners, frequently enough accompanied by threats of violence, including death or abduction, if their demands are not met.
A stark example of this trend occurred last July when a prominent leader in Mexico’s fisheries industry was fatally shot in Ensenada, Baja california. the victim had been vocal about the detrimental impact of drug cartel extortion and illegal fishing practices on the industry. His assassination took place mere hours after he had publicly voiced concerns about the prevalence of illicit fishing activities.
The reach of these criminal enterprises extends to ordinary citizens as well. In january, a cartel operating in the troubled state of Michoacan reportedly established its own clandestine internet infrastructure. Local residents were informed that they would be required to pay for access to this Wi-Fi service, with non-compliance allegedly resulting in death. These installations, referred to by local media as “Narco-Iantennas,” utilized stolen equipment to set up internet transmitters in various communities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
