Tulum Coastal Residents Protest Judge’s Alleged Land Grab

On Thursday morning, an attempted eviction was reported on a parcel of land located at kilometer 8.5 of the Tulum coastal area. This same land was previously involved in a similar incident in 2016. Residents of a local ejido (communal land) in Tulum have accused Judge Deyliana Avilés and law clerks María Elena Anaya Reyes and Nancy Aracely Flota Núñez of illegally favoring supposed landowners who may not be the legitimate owners.

The residents allege that the plot of land the judicial authorities are trying to reclaim doesn't even exist. They argue that the legal action appears to be a fraudulent procedure reminiscent of events in 2016. During that time, under the administration of former Governor Roberto Borge, a fraud was perpetrated involving coercion to seize ejidal lands.

The residents claim that the current procedure is illegal. They argue that a civil judge cannot order the seizure of ejidal land, as its legal status is protected by agrarian law. Despite this, Judge Avilés has reportedly ignored this principle and proceeded with the process, disregarding previous court rulings that invalidated the procedure.

The residents accuse Judge Avilés and the law clerks of being part of a corruption network within the Quintana Roo Judicial Power, known as The Turtle Cartel. This group is alleged to operate through extortion, influencing outcomes in civil and family disputes based on who pays more. It has been documented that law clerks María Elena Anaya Reyes and Nancy Aracely Flota Núñez have been involved in other questionable activities since 2016, operating with impunity within the judicial system.

Witnesses claim that the law clerks, accompanied by an intimidating group, exited a vehicle in an apparent attempt to frighten those opposing the illegal land reclamation. In response, ejido residents are calling for urgent intervention from the Judiciary Council and agrarian authorities. They view the situation as an abuse of power and a violation of ejidal rights.

The residents are also demanding an immediate investigation of the judge and her team, as well as a halt to any eviction actions in the area until the legality of the process is clarified. Attempts to gather more information were unsuccessful as the law clerks avoided the media.