Durango lawmaker cites widespread business extortion
By Cartel Insider Wire Desk · Edited by Mica Treviño
Original reporting: Contexto de Durango
What happened
Fernando Rocha cited 1.4 million affected businesses and more than 115 billion pesos in damage, according to Contexto de Durango.
Reporting and context
One in four Mexican businesses suffered extortion in 2025, Durango state lawmaker Fernando Rocha said, citing figures from a national victimization survey, according to Contexto de Durango. The PAN legislator put the number affected at approximately 1.4 million businesses.
Rocha said only 9 percent of affected companies filed a complaint, while 91 percent did not approach the authorities. He attributed the low reporting rate primarily to distrust of institutions and the perception that the crimes go unpunished. Those figures concern the businesses he described as victims, rather than all companies in Mexico.
Contexto de Durango reported that Rocha put the economic damage from extortion at more than 115 billion pesos. He said the consequences extend beyond security at business premises to the livelihoods of owners and workers trying to protect their assets and preserve jobs.
The lawmaker also said extortion against merchants and business owners increased between 2023 and 2025. He expressed concern that threats continue to confront people attempting to keep businesses operating and contribute to the economy. The figures in the report are those cited by Rocha; the article identifies their source as the National Victimization Survey.
Original publication: Contexto de Durango.