Cancun Crackdown: Police Target Extortion & Drug Trade

Cancun's beaches are seeing a crackdown on extortion and drug dealing by local police.

Ricardo Morales Santo, the newly appointed head of Cancun's Tourist Police, has revealed that some street vendors on the beaches often become involved in drug trafficking or extortion. Following his recent appointment, Morales Santo declared tackling these issues a priority for his department, a decision backed by the City Council. He said, "Street vending often starts innocently but can evolve into criminal activity, such as selling illegal substances or extortion. This is a major issue in the hotel zone."

Morales Santo confirmed that the Cancun Tourist Police are supported by personnel from the Secretary of the Navy and the National Guard. These reinforcements cover various sectors of the hotel zone, ready to respond to any incidents.

The new police chief also plans to continue many of the measures implemented by his predecessor, Alan Cuauhtémoc Galván Ponce, who now serves as Undersecretary of Control and Operation for the Secretary of Citizen Security and Traffic of Benito Juarez.

WHO IS RICARDO MORALES SANTO?

Lieutenant Morales Santo is a graduate of the Heroic Naval Military School, where he earned a degree in Marine Infantry. He has held various positions, including commander of Sections and Company in the Marine Infantry Battalions Number 2,22,1, and Head of Human Resources, Tactical Communications, Weapons and Vehicles of the Marine Infantry Unit in the General Staff of the Navy. He also served as the secretary of Citizen Security in the municipality of Tulum.

Public Security and Justice Procurement specialist Oswaldo Chávez Wiarco commented on Morales Santo's focus on street vendors. He emphasized the need for the department to gather intelligence to identify which vendors are involved in illegal activities. He said, "There's a possibility that a significant number of beach vendors could also be involved in crimes like drug dealing. The police chief needs to know who they are." Wiarco highlighted the importance of understanding the criminal groups these individuals are associated with and their spheres of influence. This intelligence will help formulate strategies to arrest not only drug dealers but also higher-ranking members of organized crime.

Wiarco also noted that this intelligence work will enable authorities to avoid stereotyping those who work on Cancun's beaches.