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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Oscar Lopez in Mexico City

Kidnappings, threats and ‘protection fees’: how can Mexico confront rise in deadly extortion?

Mexican Army and Federal police patrol a crime scene  in Navolato.
Members of the Mexican army and federal police at a crime scene after an organised crime shooting in Villa Juárez, Navolato, Sinaloa state. Photograph: Fernando Brito/AFP/Getty Images

It was about 11pm and Luis* was about to get into an Uber to go home when the police car pulled up. One of the officers frisked him and produced two plastic bags with what looked like drugs: one contained some sort of powder, the other little crystals. Luis had never seen them before.

Luis, who asked not to use his real name for fear of reprisals, insisted that the drugs weren’t his, but the officers didn’t seem to care. They shoved him into the back of the police truck and drove into the night.

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