MEXICALI, Mexico – A long-time local merchant in Mexicali is reporting a chilling extortion attempt by a group of individuals posing as agents of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR). The criminals, who traveled in vehicles emblazoned with official logos, demanded $10,000 USD from the businessman, threatening to plant illegal items or even take his life if he refused to comply.

Joel, a merchant who has operated a family-run bazaar for three years, recounted the harrowing experience to Semanario ZETA. He expressed profound fear for his life, noting that the uniformed criminals appear to know the exact location of his business and have identified his face.

A High-Pressure Encounter

Still visibly shaken and seeking medical attention for blood pressure issues triggered by the incident, Joel described the events of October 4. While he was attending to his usual sales, two pickup trucks pulled up in front of his shop. One of the vehicles featured the official logos of the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR).

One of the occupants signaled for Joel to approach. Acting with the overconfidence of individuals who believe they are above the law, the subjects demanded all documentation related to his sales, claiming they were conducting an inspection.

Joel complied, presenting both Mexican tax records (SAT) and documentation from U.S. authorities proving that the imported merchandise entered Mexico legally.

“They told me that wasn’t enough and that I should move along because we were in front of many people,” Joel recalled. “Then, they rolled down the window and handed me a phone, saying, ‘The boss wants to speak with you; you’ll have to settle it with him.’”

The Extortion Demand

The conversation escalated into a direct extortion demand. “He told me I had two hours to hand over $10,000 dollars as a starting amount,” Joel said, recounting the magnitude of the threat.

The criminals warned him that if he reported them to the authorities, they would retaliate. They claimed to have “ears everywhere” and told him that even if he tried to flee, they would pursue him. “They told me they would kill me,” Joel remembered, stating that in all his years of working, he had never faced a threat of such severity.