Police Officer Killed in Quintana Roo by Cartel: Latest Attack Sparks Investigation

In less than two weeks, another police officer has been killed in Quintana Roo. This follows the murder of José Roberto Rodríguez Bautista, Chief of Police in Tulum, on March 24. Early Monday morning, an officer in Felipe Carrillo Puerto was shot dead in the town of Xpichil by the Caborca Cartel.

Some believe this killing is linked to internal disputes within the cartel due to recent raids aimed at arresting the local leader in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Ángel Manuel Galindo “El Galindo”. The officer killed had reportedly refused to continue working for the cartel, which led to his death. During Claudia Sheinbaum's tenure, over 200 police officers across Mexico have been killed by organized crime. The officer, Aurelio Arana Pech, was a municipal police officer recognized for his work and 20-year career. In less than a year, two officers in the Maya area have been killed, with the first being Samuel Moo Tah, who was assassinated on October 20 last year.

Early Monday morning, around 3:40 am, emergency services received a report of a man being pursued by masked men in a white and red van. Witnesses reported a white or silver van with armed individuals chasing a red sedan with three passengers. The sedan crashed into a post, and a man exited the vehicle and tried to flee but was shot multiple times and then shot in the head. After the attack, the assailants stole the victim's vehicle and fled in an unknown direction. The victim was identified as municipal police officer Aurelio Arana, a native of the Xpichil community.

Attempts to locate Arana through his and his wife's cell phones were unsuccessful. At the crime scene, several spent 223 and 9 mm caliber shells were found. The General Prosecutor's Office of Quintana Roo has launched an investigation into the incident in X-Pichil. They are working in coordination with the Interinstitutional Group to find and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Prosecutor's Office has reiterated its commitment to ensuring no impunity for those who break the law and threaten the peace of the state.