Cancún’s New Police Chief Threatened by Narcos in 24-Hour Ultimatum

Cancún, Q. Roo — Just four days after assuming his role as head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security and Transit in the municipality of Benito Juárez, Jaime Padilla Barrientos has become the target of a narco-banner containing direct threats and accusations of alleged corruption. The banner was hung in Cancún’s Region 213, alarming authorities and residents alike.

Banner Placed Near School in Alejandría

Reports indicate that an individual riding a green-and-black cross-type motorcycle was responsible for hanging the threatening message on the fence of a school in the area known as Alejandría. The text, allegedly attributed to a criminal group calling itself the "owner of the plaza," demands that Padilla Barrientos resign from his new position within 24 hours and remove officials allegedly appointed by former official Raciel López Salazar, the attorney general and a member of Quintana Roo’s Security Council.

The message reads:

"ATTENTION JAIME PADILLA BARRIENTOS: YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO RESIGN FROM THE SECRETARIAT OF PUBLIC SECURITY, AS WELL AS ALL THE DOGS THAT RACIEL PLACED IN KEY POSITIONS (…) OTHERWISE WE WILL TURN THE CITY INTO A MESS, AND THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME WILL BE YOU (…) DON’T FORGET WHO MADE YOU WHAT YOU ARE."
—ATT. OWNER OF THE PLAZA

The threat warns of escalating violence if the demands are not met, raising concerns among security agencies about a potential surge in criminal activity in Cancún.

Background and Previous Controversies

Sources confirm that Padilla Barrientos previously served as Secretary of Public Security in another Mexican state, a tenure reportedly marred by similar threats. This mirrors an incident in the municipality of Tulum, where the local police chief was also threatened over alleged involvement in a high-profile case.

Padilla Barrientos’ prior administration faced accusations of ties to criminal organizations and internal investigations, though no formal charges have been filed against him. His recent appointment as Cancún’s municipal police chief comes amid a restructuring effort following a rise in violent incidents and political pressures over control of key security institutions.

Authorities Respond

Municipal police officers removed the banner and turned it over to the State Attorney General’s Office as evidence. As of now, neither Padilla Barrientos nor the municipal government has issued an official statement regarding the threat.

The appearance of the narco-banner underscores the fragile security situation in Cancún, where criminal factions are reportedly vying for control amid allegations of infiltration within law enforcement. The Secretariat of Citizen Security in Benito Juárez has remained silent, leaving uncertainty about how Padilla Barrientos will respond to the ultimatum.