SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — About 300 business owners in the Mexican border state of Baja California have filed claims of extortion, and leaders want the state to step in.
Gina Villalobos, president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce for Services and Tourism, is promoting a bill in congress mandating any accusations be investigated by the state automatically, without victims having to file an official complaint.
In cities like Tijuana, most businesses, large and small, are under the threat of violence and vandalism unless monthly payments are made.
“After any claim, made by anyone, including the media, this should be done. This would be a significant step forward,” Villalobos said. “Right now, the only way it’s considered a crime is if the victim officially denounces the person committing the crime.”
She also said the number of complaints would be much higher if victims did not fear vengeance and retribution should they come forward.
“It’s very important to generate an anonymous mechanism to report these crimes,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s going to become very difficult to overcome this crime since cartels operate with impunity.”
According to Villalobos, about half of the people who file a claim eventually shut down their businesses and leave the area.
“These are people who want nothing to do with Tijuana and never return. These were markets, salons, tire shops, pharmacies, hardware stores and many other types of businesses,” she said. “There also needs to be a system in place to offer security, so these business owners feel safe and protected once they accuse someone of extortion.”
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