An attempt to extort 12 million pesos from a parcel delivery company exposed the violence with which extortion rings operate in Mexico City (CDMX). A silent complaint to the authorities led to a shootout in the Cuauhtémoc borough, where officers from the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) clashed with suspected criminals, resulting in six arrests and one injured police officer.
According to the official investigation, the extortion amount demanded was documented in a prior complaint filed by the owners of the affected company. This information allowed SSC intelligence units to identify the alleged perpetrators and plan a strategic operation to arrest them without endangering the public.
The police deployment took place on the streets of the Cuauhtémoc neighborhood, an area of high commercial activity and constant traffic. The officers located the suspected extortionists, but when they were caught off guard, they tried to flee and take refuge in a law office located at 31 Bis Río Ebro Street, named Sahagún y Saavedra.
It was at that moment that the exchange of gunfire occurred. According to reports, the suspects allegedly fired weapons at the police officers, who returned fire. The confrontation resulted in one SSC officer being wounded, who received immediate medical attention, and the arrest of six people allegedly involved in the extortion ring.
The operation caused scenes of tension among the residents of the area. Some neighbors recounted the fear they felt upon hearing the gunshots. Tani, a resident across the street from the building where two of the suspects were apprehended, said she had to throw herself to the ground when she heard the shots.
Other witnesses indicated that at least six shots were heard before the situation was finally brought under control by the officers.
Following the confrontation, the six individuals involved were taken to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, where an investigation file was opened for aggravated extortion and attempted homicide, crimes considered high-impact offenses. Authorities do not rule out the possibility that the detainees are part of a criminal organization dedicated not only to extortion but also to other illicit activities.
The property used as a hideout remains secured by authorities while the investigation continues to gather more evidence and strengthen the legal case. The Mexico City Police Department (SSC) reported that the operation was the result of months of intelligence work and reiterated its commitment to combating extortion in the capital.
Source: quinto-poder
