A merchant became embroiled in an altercation with the Secretary of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City, resulting in a fine of more than 90,000 pesos. During an operation to remove street vendors in the Alameda Central on January 27, Tania Silva, the owner of a flauta stand, threw salsa at SSC officials.
After receiving the fine, Tania said that this action, which made her famous on the internet, took away her livelihood and left her in debt due to legal expenses. In an interview for Imagen Noticias with Nacho Lozano, the merchant described the violence she faced during the operation: 'About eighty police officers arrived, we started with them pulling my things, they started to pull my flauta cart as if to take it away, they were pulling me, hitting me, kicking me, I felt winded, I think to prevent me from resisting.'
After being detained, a worker participating in the operation accused Tania of throwing hot oil at her, causing first-degree burns to her face. Despite the fact that the video circulating online only shows the moment when Tania throws a container of salsa, she, her husband, and a companion were detained, charged, and imprisoned. The woman who threw the salsa spent 15 days in the Santa Martha prison.
Family members had to pay 10,000 pesos for each detainee, in addition to covering the fees of a lawyer for their release. Despite this, they remain under precautionary measures that prevent them from approaching the scene of the incident, which has hindered Tania from continuing her business to make a living.
