Durango’s Silence: How the Governor Is Evading Responsibility in La Laguna’s Extortion Crisis

LA LAGUNA, Mexico —

The calls almost always begin the same way. A quiet pause. A measured breath. Then a man’s voice, calm and unhurried, addressing the shop owner or farmer on the other end with unsettling familiarity.

“We know who you are,” the callers say. “And we know what you can pay.”

Across the Comarca Lagunera, a vast desert region shared by Durango and Coahuila, extortion has become part of daily life for merchants, farmers, transport operators and small manufacturers. Many say the situation has worsened sharply in recent months. And as the threats multiply, one accusation is repeated with growing frustration: that the governor of Durango, Esteban Villegas Villarreal, has failed to confront the problem — or even acknowledge it fully.

The perception has hardened into a political crisis, pitting business leaders and civic organizations against a government many describe as absent at a critical moment. In interviews, meetings and public statements, these groups are pressing the governor for transparency, enforcement and accountability. What they say they have received instead are deflections, vague assurances and speeches about future technological investments.

“People are terrified,” said the leader of a major business chamber in Gómez Palacio, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals. “They want to know whether the government is actually doing anything, or if we are all on our own.”

A Region Struggling With Silence

The tension escalated in early November, when 13 business chambers in La Laguna published an unusually direct public message to the governor. The document, titled simply “Actions, Not Speeches,” called for the immediate publication of statistics on extortion: the number of cases reported, investigated and prosecuted; the number of indictments filed; and the number of convictions handed down.

They also demanded independent audits of the Vice Prosecutor’s Office in Lerdo, which oversees criminal investigations in La Laguna, and a comprehensive review of the State Police, which many in the region say has lost credibility.

The groups’ central argument is straightforward: without transparency, it is impossible to know whether the government is facing the crisis or ignoring it.

But according to several business leaders, the governor’s response did not address their concerns. Instead of presenting data or ordering audits, Mr. Villegas characterized part of the information circulating in the media as “refritos” — reheated leftovers — a remark that frustrated many who say the extortion problem has reached an unprecedented scale.

“Victims are risking their lives to speak,” said a representative of the agricultural sector. “To call their testimonies old or exaggerated is to dismiss the reality they live with every day.”

Voices From the Ground

Extortion in La Laguna takes many forms. In interviews across the region, residents described a spectrum of threats: demands for weekly payments from shop owners; fees imposed on truckers at unofficial checkpoints; and agricultural producers pressured to surrender part of their earnings or buy supplies exclusively from criminal intermediaries.

One melon farmer in an ejido near Tlahualilo described how, for nine months, a group of men arrived at his gate every two weeks to collect cash. He went to authorities once, he said. The investigation never advanced.

A restaurant owner in Gómez Palacio recalled receiving a message naming the school her daughter attended. She closed early that afternoon and has not reopened for dinner service since.

A transport operator in Lerdo said that he no longer answers calls from unknown numbers. The last time he did, the callers sent him photos of his trucks. Later, they sent him a picture of his home.

“These are not isolated stories,” said a civic activist in Torreón. “They are everyday realities.”

A Lack of Trust in Institutions

Underlying the business community’s demands is a broader anxiety: that the very institutions responsible for protecting citizens may be overwhelmed, under-resourced or compromised.

Some business leaders say victims fear reporting extortion to the Vice Prosecutor’s Office because they worry the information may leak back to the criminal groups involved. Others question why investigations seem to stall or disappear without explanation. Still others say the State Police conducts occasional operations but rarely makes public arrests or disclosures.

When asked for comment, officials in Durango’s government have pointed to planned upgrades in surveillance technology, including new monitoring centers and camera systems. But critics say such announcements offer little comfort without data showing that extortion cases are being resolved.

“Technology is not accountability,” said a representative of the region’s manufacturing sector. “We need prosecutions, not promotional material.”

A Governor on the Defensive

Governor Villegas, who took office in 2022, has repeatedly insisted that his administration is committed to addressing crime. In public appearances, he has spoken of strengthening security infrastructure and creating specialized units to respond more quickly to threats.

But he has not released detailed statistics on extortion cases, and he has not indicated whether he will authorize the audits sought by business leaders.

The governor’s critics say this posture reflects an unwillingness to confront uncomfortable realities. His allies, however, argue that the state faces complex challenges and that releasing incomplete data could worsen panic.

In the absence of public figures, a vacuum has formed — one filled by fear, rumor and political pressure.

The Business Community’s Road Map

In their joint statement, the business chambers outlined several actions they say the state must take immediately:

1. Publish comprehensive crime statistics, including extortion reports, investigations, indictments and convictions.

2. Audit the Vice Prosecutor’s Office in Lerdo to evaluate its handling of extortion cases.

3. Review and, if necessary, purge elements of the State Police suspected of negligence or misconduct.

4. Create mechanisms to protect victims, including confidential reporting channels and guaranteed follow-up.

5. Present a measurable, time-bound anti-extortion plan subject to regular public evaluation.

“These are not political demands,” said a business chamber spokesman. “They are basic requirements for a functioning justice system.”

The public statement that angered Esteban Villegas

Economic and Social Consequences

As extortion spreads, its effects on the regional economy are becoming more visible.

Transport companies have reduced operations after repeated threats.Small retailers now close earlier, affecting employment and supply chains.Agricultural producers have delayed harvests or reduced production to avoid attracting attention.

Economists warn that if the trend continues, the region could face long-term contraction, deterring investment and pushing more residents into informal or illegal economies.

“Extortion is corrosive,” said a security analyst based in Torreón. “It undermines the market, erodes institutional credibility and normalizes fear. Once it becomes entrenched, reversing it is extremely difficult.”

A Growing Sense of Abandonment

Perhaps the most damaging consequence for the government is the undercurrent of abandonment many residents now express.

In interviews, people repeatedly said they feel unprotected — not only from criminal groups but from the institutions meant to defend them.

“The worst part is not the call,” said a merchant in Gómez Palacio. “The worst part is knowing that if something happens, no one will come.”

Others echoed the sentiment.

“We’re not asking the governor for miracles,” said the leader of a local business association. “We’re asking him to show up.”

Waiting for Answers

As pressure mounts, Durango’s government faces a critical test: whether it can restore public confidence by offering transparency, accountability and measurable action.

For now, many residents of La Laguna say they are waiting — for protections, for data, for arrests, for justice.

And as they wait, the calls continue. The pauses, the measured breathing, the calm voices on the line.

The shadow over La Laguna grows.

And many here are still asking the same question:

Who will confront it — if the governor will not?