The head of the State Public Security Secretariat, Francisco Sánchez González, revealed that in the Puebla capital, at least seven points have been identified where groups dedicated to extortion operate, several of them composed of criminals of Colombian and Venezuelan origin. In an interview, the official detailed that one of the main red spots continues to be the Mercado Morelos, although it is not the only site where these gangs maintain a presence, as they have also spread to other markets and tianguis (street markets) in the city. He explained that after operations against criminal groups such as “La Barredora” and other criminal cells, a displacement of these groups to new points of operation has been detected, mainly supply centers with high foot traffic. One of the schemes that most concerns the authorities is the so-called “gota a gota”, a system of illegal loans characterized by excessive charges and intimidation tactics against merchants. Sánchez González indicated that these organizations were initially detected in the Angelópolis area, where they were also linked to the theft of high-end watches. Subsequently, they moved to municipalities in the conurbation area and have now migrated towards markets and tianguis. The official highlighted that coordinated work is already being done with municipal authorities, including the Secretary of Citizen Security, Félix Pallares Miranda, as well as with the National Institute of Migration (INM), to address the problem and, if necessary, proceed with the repatriation of foreign individuals involved. Regarding the situation at Mercado Morelos, he stated that after recent operations and arrests, the conditions have changed and criminal groups have reduced their level of impunity, although they now operate with greater caution to avoid capture. “Arrests will be more complex, but operations will continue,” he affirmed. Finally, he emphasized that the strategy aims to regain control of these spaces, protect tenants and customers, and combat crimes such as extortion and drug dealing in the Puebla capital.
