Want to run a business in Mexico? Make sure you keep this in mind!
It doesn’t matter how safe the neighborhood is. Your business can be approached at any time by a cartel member and they demand payment or else they’ll threaten yours or your customer’s lives. They are absolutely serious and also quite clever.
How it works:
- You open a business.
- Cartel members start scoping out your place. Pretending to shop for prices or ask about your products and services. They’ll ask many questions pretending to be a prospective buyer to guess how much you make per month. They might also check your website and Instagram.
- Using this knowledge along with the knowledge they have of other businesses they’ve extorted, they’ll come to you with a price. Either you pay it, or you’re going to have “problems”.
- Sometimes, even more than 1 gang will approach you. Telling the 2nd gang that you’re already paying the 1st gang should be enough for them to leave you alone.
Tips on how to deal with the cartel extortion racket:
- Do not open your business on a private storefront. They will find you eventually and ruin the mood. Even if you move, they will probably find you.
- Try to open your business inside a hotel or hostel, since they already paid this cartel fee (or might even be owned by one). So you won’t (or shouldn’t) have to pay the racket. This can also be a good business idea since you’ll be exposed to tourists and travellers which are may be your target demographic and have more spending money than the locals.
- Do not bother going to the police. They work with the cartels!