Juchitán mayor arrested in extortion investigation

Reporting and context

Mexican authorities arrested Miguel Sánchez Altamirano, the mayor of Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, and a man identified as alias La Parca on orders alleging aggravated extortion and crimes against state security. UDGTV reported that the arrests were announced by Security and Citizen Protection Secretary Omar García Harfuch, who said the two were allegedly linked to a criminal structure involved in extortion, collection of protection payments, retail drug sales, human trafficking and homicide.

Authorities have not identified the organization allegedly involved or detailed the specific role each suspect is accused of playing. UDGTV reported that investigators also tied them to alleged “protection schemes” that may have enabled criminal groups to operate in the region. Sánchez Altamirano, a member of Morena, has governed Juchitán for the 2025-2027 term.

The arrests came amid a security strategy launched in Juchitán in April. According to UDGTV, Oaxaca authorities had identified homicide, extortion and retail drug dealing as among the municipality’s most serious crimes, while state officials reported 219 arrests, 35 seized firearms and more than 3,600 confiscated drug doses in July under the Juchitán Plan for Peace, Justice and Well-Being. Harfuch said the Financial Intelligence Unit also froze resources and blocked accounts connected to the investigation, without specifying amounts or the number of affected people.