SAA event in Tuxtla Gutiérrez area, Mexico on Thu 18th June 2026

A joint operation between the Chiapas State Public Security Secretariat and the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) dismantled a transnational criminal cell dedicated to extortion through a loan scheme known as " gota a gota " ( drop by drop ). The police intervention took place in the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez and resulted in the arrest of 11 members of the criminal group .

The state's Attorney General, Jorge Luis Llaven , explained that the organization's modus operandi consisted of offering immediate pawn loans with exorbitant and accumulating interest rates, turning the debts into unpayable amounts in the short term. Once the victims were unable to make the daily payments, the debt collectors resorted to death threats, physical assaults, and direct damage to homes and businesses to demand the money.

Intelligence work allowed authorities to simultaneously locate and neutralize the attackers in the Chiapas capital. After verifying their identities and immigration status, authorities confirmed the international composition of the criminal gang.

Eight people of Venezuelan origin.

A person of Colombian nationality.

Two people of Mexican nationality.

All those captured were charged for their direct responsibility in the commission of the crimes of aggravated extortion, threats, injuries and damage to property belonging to others.

At the time of the arrest in flagrante delicto, state security officers and ministerial investigators inspected the suspects and the vehicles they were using to carry out the forced collections, managing to seize the following illicit material:

One long firearm and two short firearms.

Four magazines and 42 usable cartridges of various calibers.

Two motor vehicles and four motorcycles used for collection routes.

Fifty-two doses of methamphetamine.

Thirty-five doses of the synthetic drug known as crystal.

Thirty-one doses of cocaine.

The arsenal, the vehicles, the doses of narcotics and the 11 detainees were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Attorney General of the State, the body that will compile the corresponding investigation file and resolve the legal situation of each person involved, also notifying the corresponding immigration authorities.