"Cartel's Death Threat Wi-Fi Extortion Shocks Local Mexican Community"

In Michoacan, Mexico, a cartel has been extorting locals by forcing them to pay for Wi-Fi services provided through illegally set up antennas, threatening them with death for non-compliance. The cartel, identified by local media as Los Viagras, used stolen equipment to build the network and charged around 5,000 people exorbitant fees, generating an estimated $150,000 monthly. Authorities have seized the equipment and made an arrest. This incident highlights a broader trend where Mexican cartels diversify their criminal activities beyond drug trafficking, exerting control over various local markets and services.