Tecamachalco merchants report extortion threats and criminal intimidation

Merchants in Tecamachalco, Puebla, have reported extortion attempts involving demands for payments ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 pesos. In recorded audio messages, individuals claiming to represent criminal organizations—specifically referencing “the four letters” in allusion to the CJNG—threaten business owners to ensure they are “aligned” with the group.

The extortionists have used the kidnapping and death of the son of Mayor Mateo Hernández López as a psychological tactic, suggesting that his fate was a consequence of refusing to collaborate with criminal elements. One individual, identified in recordings as Abraham Morales, alias “Doble Cero,” claimed to represent “the people of Jalisco.”

In response to these threats, the Puebla State Public Security Secretariat (SSP) has increased surveillance in the municipality. Vice Admiral Francisco Sánchez González announced that the State Preventive Police and the National Guard are coordinating with municipal authorities to strengthen patrols. The SSP has advised citizens not to make deposits or provide personal information to callers and has activated specialized assistance through the Cyber Police and the 089 emergency line.