Finally: the definitive solution that no one expected but we will all love (until next time)
In a turn that will undoubtedly perplex the extortion cartels, the Senate of the Republic has unanimously raised its hand to approve a constitutional reform. The goal? Prevent, investigate and punish that small modern inconvenience known as extortion, a crime that, according to statistics, seems to be the only one that has decided to ignore official speeches and has experienced a significant increase. What a detail, right?
The initiative, sent by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, was received with the enthusiasm of someone who finds an umbrella just when it stops raining. The Morenoist senator Olga Sosa Ruiz, probably holding back tears of emotion, maintained with conviction that “with this reform an important step is taken to stop this crime.” Of course, because stopping a crime that affects the assets, security and peace of families is something that can always wait for the next legislature.
Homologize sentences: because a crime in Tijuana should not be more fun than one in Cancún
One of the star purposes of this reform is to prosecute this crime ex officio. That is, the authorities will have to act even if the victim, in panic, does not dare to report. An idea so revolutionary that you wonder why they didn’t think of it sooner. But the magic doesn’t end there. It is also proposed to standardize the criminal types and sanctions. Currently, the punishment for extorting your neighbor can be as diverse as Mexican cuisine: from one year in prison (a kind of spiritual retreat) to 30 years (a real sentence, one of those that is punishing), with fines ranging from 36 thousand to 691 thousand pesos. Isn’t it cozy that the law depends on your zip code?
In addition, and this is most moving, the reform promises to have a focus focused on the protection of victims and reparation of harm. Because, let’s be honest, what’s the point of putting an extortionist in jail if the victim is still without his money and traumatized for a while? A detail of humanity that, without a doubt, is welcome.
The national strategy: 43 thousand calls and 72% of “almost but not”
Senator Sosa was quick to clarify that this “is not an isolated reform.” Thank goodness! It is part of the much vaunted National Security Strategy. And this is where the numbers get more interesting than a soap opera. According to the legislator, since the government implemented the strategy on July 6, more than 43 thousand calls to 089 have been received. The jewel in the crown: in 72% of cases, the crimes were not completed. An enviable efficiency. Or, seen another way, in 28% of the calls, the criminals did achieve their objective. But, hey, let’s focus on the glass half full.
Thanks to these anonymous complaints, we are told, arrests have been made and valuable information has been integrated. One can almost visualize the control room, full of anonymous heroes deciphering clues, while the extortionists, on the other end of the line, scratch their heads wondering why so many people are suddenly telling them that “they already spoke to 089.”
The strategy, with surgical precision worthy of a laser, focuses on 8 entities where 66% of crimes are concentrated. Under five axes of action, which include everything from priority arrests (because some arrests are a higher priority than others) to the creation of local anti-extortion units (Ghostbusters style?), training in crisis management and, of course, the famous 089 as the unique reporting number. A plan so complete that it is almost a shame that crime has dared to increase.
In short, the Senate has taken a step forward. Will it be enough? Time, and next month’s statistics, will tell. Meanwhile, Mexicans can sleep a little easier knowing that their representatives are… reforming. Again.
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