"Mexican Cartel's Death Threats Compel Locals to Pay for Bootleg Wi-Fi"
In Michoacan, Mexico, a cartel has been threatening locals with death unless they pay for the use of makeshift Wi-Fi antennas, known as "narco-antennas," set up by the cartel with stolen equipment. Charging 400 to 500 pesos per month from about 5,000 people, the cartel could earn around $150,000 monthly. Law enforcement has seized the equipment and detained one person. This incident is part of a broader trend where cartels diversify their revenue streams beyond drug trafficking, imposing monopolies on various services and markets, including food, mining, and even timeshare scams targeting Americans.