State legislators have called for the creation of a specialized prosecution unit dedicated exclusively to combating extortion, approving a formal request to the Baja California Attorney General’s Office (FGE) to establish the new agency.
The measure, championed by Congressman Jaime Cantón Rocha, aims to address what he described as an escalating phenomenon of extortion crimes across the region. The proposed Special Prosecutor’s Office for Extortion would operate with technical autonomy, dedicated resources, and full authority to investigate and prosecute these cases.
Acknowledging that the State Government and FGE have existing strategies to combat organized crime, the legislator argued that the scale and complexity of extortion make a specialized body indispensable for achieving more effective results in investigating and punishing those who commit this crime.
Specialized Anti-Extortion Unit in Baja California
The push for a specialized unit comes despite existing anti-extortion measures. The Attorney General’s Office currently maintains a Special Extortion Crime Investigation Group, which reported multiple arrests across Mexicali, Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito between June and August 2025. Cantón Rocha, however, argued that a fully resourced prosecutor’s office would provide stronger technical and legal capabilities, along with comprehensive victim support services that current structures cannot deliver.
“It would have permanent human, technical, and budgetary resources; comprehensive victim support; and inter-institutional coordination in the prosecution of these crimes,” he stated.
The initiative aligns with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s national security strategy, which emphasizes the state’s responsibility to lead extortion prosecutions rather than placing the burden on victims.
Cantón Rocha explained that the federal plan includes strengthening state mechanisms, using the 089 number for anonymous tips, the automatic opening of investigation cases, and operational measures such as blocking telephone numbers and freezing bank accounts linked to extortion activities.
