The Mennonite community reported that agents from the Attorney General's Office (FGR) have been extorting its members, demanding monthly payments ranging from 30,000 to 500,000 pesos, and even up to 200,000 pesos for 'Christmas bonuses' during the December holidays. These agents, in collaboration with military and security forces, have used their power to intimidate the communities, causing fear among the members.
In a specific case, the FGR agents refused to pay for a service and resorted to threats, going so far as to kidnap a Mennonite employee to pressure the family. The representative of the Mennonites stated: 'The FGR agents resorted to terror by bringing in the Secretary of National Defense, the National Guard, and Pemex personnel with a tanker to take away the fuel from the farmers, but they refused.'
The victims' lawyer has exposed that corrupt agents continue to operate with impunity, while the Prosecutor's Office has not taken effective measures to investigate its own staff. The victims, facing additional barriers such as language, have requested protection and the removal of the agents involved in the extortions in the region.
Julián LeBaron, who supports the victims, mentioned that, despite the traditional stance of avoiding conflicts from the Mennonite community, the constant extortions and threats have led its members to defend themselves. The community, known for its Anabaptist faith and its refusal to violence, has rejected these extortion practices that seek to obtain large sums of money in exchange for 'letting them work.'
