Tulum, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) have joined legal efforts to prevent actor and businessman Roberto Palazuelos from acquiring a disputed property within the Tulum National Park.

Legal Battle Over Protected Land

Palazuelos had previously contested a federal judge’s refusal to grant him ownership of the land, which authorities allege he unlawfully occupied for storage and logistical operations related to one of his hotels. In May 2024, the Guardia Nacional, acting on Conanp’s complaint, secured the property in favor of the federal government.

Despite losing an initial legal challenge in February 2024 (case file 756/2024-II), Palazuelos filed an appeal, now under review by the Third Collegiate Court of Circuit in Cancún. Semarnat and Conanp formally intervened in the appeal this week, submitting a joint motion to uphold the original ruling.

A court document stated: “The submissions by [1] the legal representative of Conanp and [2] the Coordinator of Administrative and Judicial Litigation for Semarnat are hereby acknowledged, wherein they file an adhesion appeal in this matter.”

Authorities accuse Palazuelos of attempting to seize federal land through legal maneuvers, a pattern they claim he has employed elsewhere in Tulum.

Mexico Implements New Federal Fee for Cruise Ship Tourists

Mexico City — As of July 1, 2025, Mexico began charging non-resident tourists arriving via cruise ships a new federal fee, starting at $5 per passenger. The fee will incrementally rise to $21 by 2030, according to a decree published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación.

Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora explained that the fee structure was negotiated with the cruise industry, alongside input from the Ministry of Finance, the National Migration Institute, and tourism stakeholders. The phased rollout aims to mitigate immediate economic impacts:

• July 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026: $5
• August 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027: $10
• July 1, 2027 – July 31, 2028: $15
• August 1, 2028 – September 30, 2030: $21

Rodríguez Zamora emphasized the policy’s goal to boost local economies and strengthen partnerships with cruise lines. Michele M. Paige, CEO of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, pledged industry cooperation, including increased procurement of Mexican goods and international promotion of the country’s tourism offerings.

Yucatán Peninsula Faces Increased Weather Risks After U.S. Satellite Data Loss

Mérida, Yucatán — Meteorologists warn that the Yucatán Peninsula’s hurricane forecasting capabilities will be compromised after July 31, 2025, when the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ceases access to critical satellite data from the Department of Defense.

The Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) provides vital inputs for tracking cyclones and extreme weather. Juan Vázquez Montalvo, a meteorologist at the Autonomous University of Yucatán (UADY), stressed that Mexican authorities must now rely more heavily on domestic expertise and alternative models, such as those from Europe and Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN).

Adar García of Quintana Roo’s Civil Protection Coordination acknowledged the challenge but noted that SMN and other sources remain operational. Antonio Riveroll Ribbon, the state’s Civil Protection director, confirmed efforts to explore technical collaborations with U.S. agencies, including potential visits to hurricane monitoring centers in Miami.

Federal Police Seize 200,000 Fentanyl Pills in Sonora Bust

Sonora — Two men were arrested and approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills were confiscated during a federal operation targeting drug trafficking along the Caborca-Sonoyta highway.

Acting on an anonymous tip, Federal Ministerial Police (PFM) agents intercepted a bus and detained suspects Carlos “G” and Ricardo “H.” The seizure, totaling 19.8 kilograms of fentanyl, was part of “Operation Border,” a joint U.S.-Mexico initiative launched in February 2025.

To date, the operation has led to 4,180 arrests and the confiscation of 38 tons of narcotics, including 1.14 million fentanyl pills. The suspects and evidence were handed over to federal prosecutors for further legal proceedings.