In the district of Playa Maya, an incursion was conducted by the authorities to disrupt the sale of illegal narcotics to non-native individuals, based on information from an unidentified source.
Despite the fact that the state of Quintana Roo is recognized for its picturesque coastlines, it has recently been overwhelmed by delinquent organizations that peddle drugs to a myriad of foreign travelers who journey to the state for leisure. Against this backdrop, a considerable number of measures of cocaine were confiscated from a tourist vessel located in Tulum.
Law enforcement officers became aware that drugs were being marketed to travelers residing in the vicinity through an anonymous tip, within the bounds of Playa Maya -one of the most prominent beaches in Tulum. The state police promptly deployed officers to the vicinity in order to execute an investigation.
In the course of the operation, scrutiny was conducted on the boats that were present in the locale, in order to ascertain whether or not they were concealing prohibited substances or articles. In the process of scrutinizing a boat with a license plate from Puerto Playa del Carmen, the uniformed officers came across numerous packages that contained white powder.
The authorities proceeded to secure the plastic bags. It was later confirmed that they were cocaine. In the images shared by the Quintana Roo Prosecutor’s Office, at least two dozen packages of the drug can be seen, although it is not known who the owner of the boat was.
Although the authorities did not detail the approximate amount of the drug, it was indicated that it was left at the disposal of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Health. During the operation, surveillance rounds were carried out to identify the alleged drug dealers, but so far there are no reports of people arrested for these acts.
In these actions also participated elements of the Ministerial Police assigned to Tulum and the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), who did not have to activate their firearms to secure the drugs. “The FGE Quintana Roo reaffirms its constitutional commitment to investigate acts that violate the peace and security of residents and visitors,” it was reported.
These security efforts are due, in part, to the violent events that have occurred in Tulum and other municipalities in the state (from murders to kidnappings of businessmen). For this reason, the Semar announced that it would send 70 elements to join the more than 150 municipal police officers to reinforce patrolling in the main tourist areas.
If you have any information regarding drug trafficking in Mexico, please contact the local authorities or the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Likewise, the Tulum City Hall announced in mid-March the new schedules for nightclubs and commercial establishments, with the purpose of safeguarding the integrity of diners, residents and tourists. As of March 17, the sale of alcoholic beverages in the coastal zone is restricted to 1:00 am, while the total closing time is 1:30 am.
For the downtown area, the maximum hours for music and alcohol sales are until 2:00 a.m., while the closing time is half an hour later. These measures are in addition to the travel alert issued by the United States for Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen. This is due to spring break and the arrival of thousands of U.S. tourists to Quintana Roo.
Tulum is not the only area of the state where drug sales have been detected. The most recent raid was carried out in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, in which drugs (mostly marijuana), weapons, useful cartridges and tactical equipment were seized in a property located in the town of Sergio Bultrón Casas.
From March 13 to 19, 143 in flagrante delicto arrests were made in the state governed by Mara Lezama, of which 38 were related to crimes against health. The presence of the country’s main criminal groups, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco Cartel – New Generation (CJNG) and the Gulf Cartel, has been detected in this state.
