Small-time drug dealing "flourishing" in Mexico City, extortions were 'stable'

Petty drug dealing increased "notably" in Mexico City, from just under 2,300 registered cases in 2024 to just over 3,400 in 2025, the daily La Jornada reported on 2 February, citing city prosecutors. The Mexico City prosecution service said this was a 48.5% increase and unrelated to mere posession, which remained at a round 2,600 registered incidents in that time. Prosecutors also noted a rise of just over 4% in illegal property occupation or squattting incidents - with around 10 cases a day reported to the police - and signs this was organized in parts of the city. Extortions, one of the country's most resilient, and under-reported, crimes and a daily staple for gangs and even cartels, remained 'stable' through 2024-25, with around 2,400 reported incidents. The daily separately reported on recent attempts at extortion in the elegant Condesa district in central Mexico City. Several businesses told police they had been asked by phone to pay sums ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 pesos (up to 2,400 euros), to avoid getting "machine gunned," La Jornada reported on 31 January. Police increased patrols in response and were observing the targeted shops.