CANCUN, MX – Mexican law enforcement officials have apprehended six individuals linked to a violent drug gang, believed to be responsible for the horrific murders of at least eight people in the popular tourist city of Cancun. The arrests followed the gruesome discovery of five dismembered bodies in a taxi on January 29, the identities of which have not been disclosed by the Quintana Roo state attorney general’s office.
According to prosecutors, the suspects are accused of using a machete to dismember five victims and burying three others in a shallow grave. The group was found in possession of drugs including marijuana, cocaine, and crack, as well as military-grade firearms, two motorcycles believed to have been used to transport the bodies, and two vehicles, one of which was reported stolen.
In a separate operation, the attorney general’s office announced the arrest of 23 individuals allegedly running a sham tour agency, which was a front for a drug operation in Cancun. This operation reportedly included a “call center” offering tourist trips and sports equipment rentals in the Caribbean resort city. This business was a facade for drug dealing activities, with transactions allegedly made over the phone and deliveries made via motorcycle.
Just a day prior, an American woman and a Belizean man were confirmed to have been fatally shot on February 9 in Tulum, a resort city south of Cancun, in what appears to be a drug-related dispute. The woman, who had no known connection to the man, believed to be a drug dealer, was tragically caught in the crossfire.
The illegal drug trade continues to be a source of violence and poses a risk to tourists in Quintana Roo. Last year, after warnings about counterfeit pills, 23 pharmacies in Caribbean coast resorts were shut down by Mexican authorities. These establishments were allegedly selling fake opioids to foreign visitors.
Despite the ongoing drug-related violence, Mexico’s tourism industry continues to thrive, particularly along the Caribbean coast. Government data shows that foreign tourists spent nearly $31 billion in Mexico in 2023, a 10% increase from the previous year. Nearly half of all foreign visitors to Mexico choose Cancun as their destination.