# Extortion and economic pressure on Mexican businesses > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/extortion-and-economic-pressure-on-mexican-businesses > Updated: 2026-09-06T19:40:38.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 6. Small businesses in Mexico face severe economic pressure from rising inflation and organized crime. The National Alliance of Small Merchants (ANPEC) previously reported that extortion demands on neighborhood stores increased from 200 to a minimum of 500 pesos. While local data in Puebla showed a 33 percent decrease in reported extortion cases to the State Attorney General's Office between January and July compared to the previous year, Beatriz Camacho, president of Coparmex in Puebla, warned that extortion has entrepreneurs ‘on their knees’ by limiting productivity. Nationally, Coparmex reports that ‘cobro de piso’ (protection money) is the most impactful crime for its members, affecting 18 percent of surveyed businesses. Telephone extortion is the most frequent modality, occurring in four out of every ten cases. In Tabasco, Agustín Gómez Sánchez of the Center for Attention to Reports of Extortion (CADDE) identified physical visits, fraudulent text messages, and ‘gota a gota’ lending as primary methods. Notably, Coparmex observed that in nearly 20 percent of extortion cases, perpetrators were authorities or individuals impersonating public servants. High victimization rates were recorded in Michoacán (58.7 percent), Nayarit (56 percent), and Jalisco (56 percent). By the first quarter of 2026, Coparmex reported that investment sentiment among its members dropped to 23 percent, a six-year low. Juan José Sierra Álvarez, president of Coparmex, noted that business expansion plans are retreating, with intentions to increase staff, branches, or products falling from 62.8 percent to 50.3 percent. To combat these trends, business leaders in the State of Mexico and Tamaulipas are urging victims to formalize complaints, noting that approximately 97 percent of extortion cases go unreported nationally. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-06: Mexico authorities and businesses urge reporting to combat extortion Mexican authorities and business groups are urging citizens and entrepreneurs to report extortion cases, noting that high rates of unreported crimes hinder investigations and police intervention. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-authorities-and-businesses-urge-reporting-to-combat-extortion ### 2026-08-27: Coparmex reports record low investment sentiment in Mexico Investment sentiment in Mexico has hit a six-year low of 23%, as Coparmex reports businesses are shifting from expansion to containment due to insecurity, extortion, and economic uncertainty. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coparmex-reports-record-low-investment-sentiment-in-mexico ### 2026-08-26: Extortion and protection money impact Mexican businesses Extortion and protection money demands are rising in Mexico, impacting nearly half of Coparmex-affiliated businesses and driving down national investment sentiment. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/extortion-and-protection-money-impact-mexican-businesses ### 2026-08-26: Coparmex demands action against rising extortion in Chihuahua Coparmex warns of a 2,325 percent increase in extortion victims in Chihuahua, urging authorities to combat rising telephone fraud and virtual kidnapping schemes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coparmex-demands-action-against-rising-extortion-in-chihuahua ### 2026-08-23: Coparmex warns extortion threatens business productivity in Puebla Coparmex president Beatriz Camacho warns that extortion threatens investment and business productivity in Puebla, despite a local decline in reported cases compared to last year. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coparmex-warns-extortion-threatens-business-productivity-in-puebla ### 2026-08-04: Mexico small shops hit by higher extortion fees and inflation ANPEC reports Mexican small retailers face rising extortion fees (now ≥500 pesos) and inflation, forcing margin cuts, price hikes and coping with high electricity costs across many states. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-small-shops-hit-by-higher-extortion-fees-and-inflation --- Cite as: Extortion and economic pressure on Mexican businesses. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/extortion-and-economic-pressure-on-mexican-businesses