Fisherman’s Death in Playa del Carmen Custody Explained

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The Attorney General's Office of the State of Quintana Roo reported this Thursday, September 25, that the death of a fisherman who was detained this past Sunday was due to asphyxiation caused by bronchoaspiration, after having consumed methamphetamine and cocaine.

According to the official report, the individual identified as Pablo Esteban de la Cruz Buenfil, 33, was detained on September 22 in the beach area of this municipality, after visitors reported a naked man under the influence of substances who was disturbing the public order. Elements of the Municipal Citizen Security Secretariat responded to the location and apprehended him after several minutes of struggling.

The physician on duty determined that the detainee could not be placed in a cell due to his health condition, which led to an order for his immediate transfer to the General Hospital of Playa del Carmen. Upon admission, he presented excessive sweating, dilated pupils, and a state of nervous agitation, symptoms consistent with drug intoxication.

According to the medical report, he later suffered convulsive seizures caused by the consumption of harmful substances and ultimately died. Subsequently, his body was transferred to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo), where an autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxiation derived from the bronchoaspiration of food consumed previously, in combination with a high degree of drug intoxication. A toxicological examination corroborated the presence of methamphetamine and cocaine in his system.

This case generated controversy in Playa del Carmen, as one day prior, the Solidaridad City Council reported the suspension of five municipal police officers related to the fisherman's detention. Through a statement, it was specified that the measure aims to guarantee transparency in the investigation and to determine liabilities.

It is worth recalling that the incident initially occurred on September 21 in the beach area near CTM Avenue, where tourists reported the man's aggressive behavior. Witnesses stated that he was in an inappropriate state and resisted being apprehended, leading to him being subdued and handcuffed on the sand before his transfer to the hospital.

The Quintana Roo Attorney General's Office emphasized that it will continue with the inquiries to fully clarify the case and determine if there were additional responsibilities in the detention and handling of the fisherman prior to his death.