Crisis in Quintana Roo: Vanishing Citizens and Rising Crime

In Quintana Roo, individuals are vanishing without a trace. The local authorities appear to be struggling to address the root cause of this crisis: a rising crime rate. Citizens point to organized crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking as the primary culprits behind the disappearances. According to the State Attorney General's Office, 883 people have gone missing in the first eight months of the year alone. However, local search groups estimate the number to be over 1,200. Reports of missing persons are becoming an everyday occurrence, disrupting the lives and peace of the residents.

In Benito Juárez, the area with the highest number of disappearances, residents suggest that the kidnappings are mainly linked to drug trafficking and territorial disputes between rival criminal groups. One resident, Raquel S., believes the disappearances are connected to drug deals. "Often, when they are found, they have bags of drugs or are discovered to be hitmen, taken by their enemies," she says.

In the state capital, involvement with drug trafficking is a leading cause of disappearances. When individuals are identified by rival cartel members, they are often kidnapped and killed. Another cause for the disappearance of minors is parental abduction during marital separations, a form of vicarious violence. Human trafficking networks for sexual exploitation also contribute to the problem.

The lack of reliable public transportation leaves citizens vulnerable, particularly in Chetumal and neighboring communities where taxis are the primary mode of transport. This sector has been linked to various crimes. Recently, a taxi was found containing three decomposing bodies. Some residents suggest that human trafficking for sexual exploitation and illegal organ trade may also be factors in the disappearances.

In Playa del Carmen, 181 people have disappeared this year. Posters of missing individuals are scattered across walls, bridges, and shop windows, often ignored by passersby. Those who stop to look see the faces of teenagers, women, and men, leaving their families in a state of constant uncertainty and anguish. The districts with the highest number of reported disappearances include Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta, Gonzalo Guerrero, and Ejidal. Among those missing are Gumercinda Gerónimo and Idelf, the mother and stepfather of Asunción Gerónimo Félix.