Coparmex warns extortion threatens business productivity in Puebla

Beatriz Camacho, president of Coparmex in Puebla, has warned that extortion is severely impacting the business sector, stating it has entrepreneurs ‘on their knees’ by limiting normal commercial operations and productivity.

In Puebla, reports of extortion to the State Attorney General's Office decreased by 33 percent from January to July compared to the previous year, dropping from 153 cases in the first seven months of 2025 to 101 this year. However, Camacho noted that several Coparmex members in the Puebla municipality have reported being victims within the last six months.

Nationally, the situation presents a different trend. While some local data shows a decline, the Security Monitor reported 6,562 victims in the first half of 2026, a 9.17 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Camacho highlighted that telephone extortion, including tactics like virtual kidnapping and false claims regarding detained relatives, remains a primary threat to investment and the stability of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).