Mexico’s Western Zone boosts virtual kidnapping alert campaign

Juan Carlos Portillo Coronado, the district prosecutor for the Western Zone of Chihuahua, announced an expanded alert campaign across all 19 municipalities after a surge in virtual kidnapping and extortion calls. The campaign urges residents not to answer unknown numbers, to hang up immediately, and never transfer money to alleged kidnappers. Victims are instructed to report incidents through emergency services (911) or the anonymous tip line (089) and to file a formal complaint at the district prosecutor’s office located at 7ª and Guatemala streets, Ex Agrícola San Antonio.

The prosecutor said most reports have been addressed promptly and the majority of victims have been rescued, but some individuals have still paid extortionists out of fear. Authorities from the Public Ministry and the State Investigation Agency remain on standby to intervene quickly in any new cases.