MÉRIDA, Mexico – The popular dining chain Sonora Grill has reportedly permanently closed its branch and franchise in Mérida, Yucatán, after filing a formal complaint regarding a suspected extortion attempt totaling more than 500,000 pesos (approximately $28,000 USD) by officials from the state’s Ministry of Health.
The establishment, located in the Urban Center shopping mall in northern Mérida, ceased operations in October 2026, according to reports from El Sol de Yucatán.
The controversy dates back to September 2025, when health authorities inspected the restaurant and suspended its activities, citing alleged irregularities in the facilities. Six days later, representatives of Sonora Grill filed a complaint with the General Prosecutor’s Office of Yucatán, alleging that officials demanded an initial payment of 500,000 pesos to resolve the situation. This figure reportedly included a 300,000-peso fine and an additional 200,000-peso demand, along with monthly payments of 30,000 pesos.
The complaint specifically identified Abraham Antonio Puch Cardeña—then the subdirector of Risk Protection against Health Risks in Yucatán—as a primary figure in the alleged economic demands. While Puch Cardeña was subsequently removed from his position, officials have not confirmed whether the move was directly linked to the restaurant’s allegations.
In its defense, the Yucatán Ministry of Health maintained that the intervention was justified by severe sanitary violations. Domitilo Carballo Cámara, the current head of Risk Protection, stated that inspections revealed cigarette butts, uncovered food, dirty utensils, unchlorinated water, and workers lacking valid medical certificates. Carballo Cámara, who is reportedly close to Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena, has remained in his position despite the controversy.
This case follows a pattern of public allegations regarding extortion practices within the state’s Health Risk Protection department. Local business owners have reported a recurring mechanism involving inspections, the placement of suspension seals, and subsequent requests for cash payments to lift closures or reduce fines. Other local businesses, including Mesón Yucateco, Bonampak, and Cervecería de la Patria, have reportedly faced similar allegations involving demands for informal payments to resolve sanitary procedures.
Sonora Grill first entered the Mérida market in 2017, opening its first Yucatán location and its 20th branch overall. The restaurant previously had the capacity to serve more than 300 patrons at a time.