According to the president of the National Chamber of the Food and Beverages Industry Chamber CANIRAC, Sergio Spinolo Serrano, there has been only one complaint about the issue of extortion and he assured that not one single peso has ever been paid to extortionists in SMA.
The leader of the Canirac in San Miguel de Allende, declared that only one case of extortion has been denounced by a member of the union he presides… “but the alleged criminals did not collect any money and they never returned to the restaurant they were trying to extort.”
In another case, it was said by witnesses that two men were asking for a fee from the merchants of La Placita.
“Given this situation, in a conversation with General Rolando Hidalgo Eddy, Secretary of Public Security of San Miguel de Allende, and the city mayor,
Luis Alberto Villarreal, to express our concern about this type of extortion, both officials told us, that, in case of an extortion attempt, just say “Yes, but right now I do not have the money,” make an appointment with the criminals so they can be detained, “said Spinolo.
He explained that what is sought is to follow up in order to catch the
racketeers.
“The authorities are telling us that in case of extortion, it is very important not only to collaborate to arrest the criminals, but also to file a formal complaint so they can stay behind bars for a long time,” Spinolo declared.
Spinolo Serrano concluded: “I have no report of any colleague who has actually given away any money, nor has any complaint been filed about it.”
San Miguel Times Newsroom