After the capture of ''El Betito,'' leader of the Union, extortion in El Centro has not stopped, and in fact is increasing with more violence.
After the capture of Roberto Mollado Esparza, "El Betito", leader of ''La Unión Tepito'', extortion in El Centro has not stopped, and in fact is increasing with more violence.
According to merchants in the area who spoke in anonymity, illegal fees allowing them to work have not diminished and on the contrary have become more violent.
A merchant said he knew about "La Unión" extorting but began to suffer it himself a few weeks ago when "El Betito" had already been arrested on August 8.
Two men who said they were from '' The Union'' showed up at his business and struck the security employee. Then, they threatened the tenants of a small building.
As of that date, he was warned that he would have to pay 40 thousand peso "entrance fees" and weekly payments of 500 pesos each.
Another merchant says that recently several subjects went to the premises to warn that the quotas would be increased.
The merchants of the area say that the day following the capture of the "Union" leader there was an increase in collections and they have also installed more stands. In addition, they went on to warn that they were going to start charging derecho de piso, from 3 thousand to 10 thousand pesos per shop, per week.
The past August 11, one of the few merchants who denounced the threats before the authorities was beaten in the middle of the street when photographing the installation of illegal stands.
''The Union'' uses street vendors as halcones and to pressure the established ones.
For Ada Irma Cruz Davalillo, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism in Mexico City (Canacope), agrees: "Fear makes the black figure [unofficial figure] for extortion very high in the area when there is no complaint."
Since the fall of "El Betito" in the Barrio Bravo, at least 10 executions have been recorded.
With information from Reforma
when is the last time capturing or killing any leader of a cartel has decreased any violence or any crime? Has it ever worked ? Because it’s like when you kill the big ant who eats half the pie, then you get 100 small ants who aren’t well fed who think they can handle more than what they had and they all want it and its almost always certainly going to cause more violence and chaos.
ReplyDeleteLiving as a regular person in mexico must be hell.
ReplyDeleteNot exactly. One can live free and in peace, obvi not 100% care free but not a living hell as you say. That is, unless you're one of these poor blokes. Paying "piso" to make a living what a world
DeleteThat is what I mean. A poor shop owner just trying to survive and you have your life threatened on a regular basis by these guys.
DeleteInlaws in California who have their brother's entire family with them for the last several weeks. They fled Jal as they had a smll tienda in a town north of Guad. Phone calls for piso collection or 'you loose a child'. They just got on a plane and told no one, even their close relatives. They are afraid to go back, but can't stay in California so long, only tourist visas. Mex is sinking. Maybe faster than before?
ReplyDelete