Kidnappings, threats and ‘protection fees’: how can Mexico confront rise in deadly extortion?

Members of the Mexican army and federal police at a crime scene after an organised crime shooting in Villa Juárez, Navolato, Sinaloa state. Photograph: Fernando Brito/AFP/Getty Images With corrupt police on the streets and shopkeepers forced to pay gangs, president has vowed to tackle crime that now affects all parts of society By Oscar Lopez in Mexico City I t was about 11pm and Luis* was about to get into an Uber to go home when the police car pulled up. One of the officers produced two plastic bags with what looked like drugs: one contained some sort of powder, the other little crystals. Luis had never seen them before. Luis, who asked not to use his real name for fear of reprisals, insisted that the drugs weren’t his, but the officers didn’t seem to care. They shoved him into the back of the police truck and drove into the night. “You’re in big trouble,” one said. The frightening ordeal lasted hours, as the police drove him all over the Mexican city, threatening him, mocking him and sexually assaulting him. It was only once the officers had drained both of Luis’ bank accounts and taken all his cash – totalling about $870 – that he was released. “If you tell anyone what happened, we’re going to find you,” said one of the officers, according to Luis. “Where do you think you could file a complaint? There’ll be someone there who’s going to tell us and then we’re going to kill you and everyone close to you.” Luis’s terrifying experience has become commonplace in Mexico. Extortion is one of the country’s most prevalent and fastest-growing crimes. Between 2016 and 2025, the number of reported extortion cases nearly doubled . According to the Global Organized Crime Index , Mexico is one the world’s top five countries for extortion and racketeering, along with Libya, Colombia, Honduras and Somalia. In the first four months of 2026, there were nearly 3,600 cases nationwide, according to official figures. Yet the true number is likely far higher: only 0.2% of extortion cases are reported, largely out of fear of reprisals, making it Mexico’s most “silent” crime. It is also one of the country’s most costly, sucking up 0.04% of its GDP every year – nearly $900m. View image in fullscreen Officers patrolling in Sinaloa, Mexico. Photograph: Jesús Verdugo Extortion affects all sectors of society, from wealthy entrepreneurs to shopkeepers who are targeted by criminal gangs and forced to pay a “protection fee”. In other instances known as “express kidnappings,” people are detained for a few hours until their families pay up. Gangs abduct – or claim to have abducted – children and even pets, says Emmanuel Moya, an anti-corruption expert. “They don’t discriminate against anyone. That’s why it’s so profitable, so easy to do, and so difficult to combat.” The town of Huautla in Morelos state recently drew national attention after the Bishop of Cuernavaca denounced the extortionists demanding that residents pay $10 per family member each month just to live there – equ