National Guard Confronts Tourists for Using Uber at Cancun Airport

At Cancun’s International Airport, National Guard officers attempted to detain a tourist who had requested service using the ride-share app, Uber. The foreign visitor and two travel companions were preparing to board the Uber vehicle outside Terminal 2. The officers claimed the tourist needed to “give a statement.”

Four National Guard members were involved in the confrontation with the tourists. One tourist was placed inside a National Guard van, while the other two attempted to communicate with the officers.

The National Guard officers prevented the tourists from giving any statements to the media and demanded they stop taking photographs. Simultaneously, a discussion was taking place with ground transportation drivers who had reported the tourists’ attempt to hire an Uber.

The incident unfolded outside Terminal 2 and lasted over 15 minutes. It began when concession taxi service operators began filming a group of tourists waiting for their Uber. Other operators called the National Guard to prevent the Uber driver from providing their service. The tourists argued they should be allowed to use the service that best ensured their safety.

One of the tourists was placed in a National Guard vehicle under the pretext of confronting the individuals who had been filming and threatening them. The tourist questioned the officers’ actions, pointing out that only they were being taken away, rather than the individuals who had been recording and intimidating them.

After one of the officers made a phone call, the tourist was released. The officers then asked the tourists to leave the area to avoid further issues. In the end, all three tourists left the scene, and re-entered Terminal 2 without further comment on the incident.

Public and private transport services in Cancun, a major tourist destination in Latin America, have been chaotic for years. Regular disruptions at Cancun’s international airport, fights, threats, pressure and harassment of arriving tourists are frequently reported on social media.

The conflict between Uber and the taxi union in Cancún has become a significant issue over the past several years, marked by legal disputes, protests, and occasional violence. Traditional taxi drivers viewed Uber’s entry into the market as a threat to their livelihoods, leading to tensions and confrontations.

In January 2023, the U.S. State Department even issued a travel advisory for Mexico’s Caribbean coast after incidents where taxi drivers harassed and attacked Uber drivers and passengers in Cancún.

In December 2023, a notable development occurred when Uber and the Cancún taxi union reached an agreement to integrate local taxi services into the Uber platform. This collaboration aimed to modernize transportation services in the area and reduce conflicts between the two groups. The agreement allowed taxi drivers to use Uber’s technology, offering their services through the app under similar conditions as independent Uber drivers.

Despite this agreement, challenges persisted. In January 2024, taxi drivers in Cancún protested against Uber’s operations, leading to road blockades and disruptions in the city. These actions prompted local authorities to call for restraint and dialogue to resolve the ongoing issues.

In response to ongoing disputes between taxi drivers and Uber drivers, the National Guard has initiated random operations within the airport, stopping all vehicles providing transport services without federal permits.

The National Guard has been actively interfering with Uber drivers’ access to Cancún International Airport, leading to significant tensions and operational challenges. In July 2024, the National Guard conducted surprise operations at the airport to prevent unauthorized Uber units and other private vehicles from entering the terminals, identifying nine vehicles operating without the necessary permits.

In September 2024, reports indicated that National Guard officers stationed outside Terminal 2 blocked Uber drivers from entering the airport to pick up passengers, aiming to identify and prevent any drivers without federal permits from operating at the airport.

This led to allegations from Uber drivers of harassment and misconduct by the National Guard, including detentions and vehicle impoundments based on reports from alleged pirate taxi drivers.

In response to these actions, Uber drivers organized protests and meetings with authorities to address the alleged abuses and seek fair treatment. In September 2024, a group of Uber drivers met with commanders of the National Guard and State Police at Tajamar boardwalk to discuss concerns over fabricated fines and unjustified detentions.

These most recent events highlight the ongoing conflict between ride-sharing services and traditional transportation providers in Cancún. Uber drivers assert they have legal protection to operate at the airport. However, officials from the National Guard and the Ministry of Communications and Transportation dispute this claim.