Tulum Police Caught Protecting Land Invaders in Sting

Tulum, Quintana Roo — What was intended as an operation to reclaim invaded lands in southern Tulum instead uncovered a new chapter of corruption within the local public security forces. The State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) detained an active municipal police officer during the eviction of an irregular settlement known as "Tren Maya," revealing alleged institutional protection of land invaders.

The operation, conducted on July 23, escalated into a violent confrontation with illegal occupants, who blocked Federal Highway 307 as a pressure tactic. Among the 52 detainees was Emilio "N," identified as a first-rank officer assigned to Tulum’s Secretariat of Public Security and Citizen Protection.

According to the Homologated Police Report, the officer was caught in flagrante delicto on a plot within parcel 125 Z-1P, located approximately 1.5 kilometers from the Tulum–Felipe Carrillo Puerto highway. Not only was he residing in the occupied area, but authorities allege he acted as a protector for the invaders, using his badge and purported connections within the state security apparatus to shield the illegal occupants.

This revelation has fueled suspicions of a broader institutional network enabling land invasions. State officials, including José Alberto Alonso Ovando, head of the Secretariat of Sustainable Urban and Territorial Development (Sedetu), have warned of falsified documents being used to legitimize land seizures—some bearing forged signatures of former governors.

At least six similar cases have been documented in Tulum, governed by Morena party Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo and his secretary general, Johnny Monsrael Padilla. These incidents cast doubt on the effectiveness of government efforts to restore territorial order.

The arrest of the police officer has reignited concerns that institutional actors may be sabotaging efforts to enforce legal certainty from within. For many, this represents not only a betrayal of public service but also a direct threat to the orderly development of one of the Mexican Caribbean’s most coveted regions.

Related Coverage:

• 11 Consortia Bid for Claudia Sheinbaum’s Train Projects – Eleven consortia submitted bids with price variations of up to 200% for constructing the first 130 kilometers of two government-backed rail lines.
• Homicides Average 92 Per Day in 2024 – A total of 33,421 homicides were recorded nationwide last year.
• Crime and Sargassum Deter Tourism in Quintana Roo – Rising insecurity and massive sargassum influx are driving tourists away from the region.
• U.S. Reports Sharp Decline in Migrant Crossings – The Trump administration highlighted a historic drop in irregular border crossings during July.

Luces del Siglo is a multimedia news outlet based in Cancún, founded in 2003 as a weekly magazine before transitioning to a daily print and digital format in 2015. It focuses on investigative and real-time coverage of regional, national, and international affairs.