President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered the Security Cabinet to make the eradication of extortion the primary objective of the state plan for Michoacán.
This shift in priority addresses one of the most urgent demands from the public in the region. By targeting extortion, the administration aims to establish a foundation of peace, and justice for residents and business owners facing organized crime.
Government officials reported that the average number of daily intentional homicides in Michoacán fell by 46% [1] between January 2025 and June 2026 [1]. This decline serves as the backdrop for the new directive to intensify offensive operations against extortion rackets.
Sheinbaum said that the government is now focusing specifically on this crime. "Nos concentramos en ese delito," Sheinbaum said [2].
The strategy involves a coordinated effort by the Security Cabinet to dismantle the networks that facilitate these crimes. This directive follows the presentation of figures and strategies by officials, including García Harfuch, detailing the methods used to achieve the reduction in homicide rates [3].
The administration intends to build on the momentum of the homicide decrease to tackle the financial infrastructure of criminal groups. This approach targets the ability of gangs to fund their operations through the systematic shaking down of local enterprises.
“"Nos concentramos en ese delito"”
The transition from focusing on homicide reduction to targeting extortion represents a strategic shift toward attacking the economic engines of organized crime. While the 46% drop in killings suggests a decrease in overt violence, extortion often persists as a hidden tax on the local economy. By prioritizing this crime, the Mexican government is attempting to move beyond containment of violence toward the systemic destabilization of criminal financial networks.
