Shocking Scandal: Aguakan’s Unfair Practices Exposed!

Aguakan, formally known as Desarrollos Hidráulicos de Cancún S. A. de C.V., is a company that has been accused of unfair billing practices. Despite facing allegations from both authorities and customers, Aguakan continues to evade justice by exploiting lengthy legal processes related to the revocation of concession rights.

One notable instance involves Paul Andrew Rangel Merkley, the director of Desarrollos Hidráulicos de Cancún S. A. de C. V. Faced with a potential arrest warrant, Merkley sought legal protection to avoid prosecution for procedural fraud. He allegedly provided false information to the Eighth District Court to prevent the withdrawal of the concession in four municipalities of Quintana Roo. This act highlighted the company's vulnerability and its desperate attempts to maintain the status quo.

From January to March 2024, Aguakan reported profits exceeding 841 million pesos. However, the Eighth District Court in Cancún denied Merkley's request for federal justice protection due to insufficient arguments. Consequently, he is now susceptible to any arrest warrant issued against him by the Attorney General's Office.

In a further attempt to retain control of the drinking water supply in northern Quintana Roo, Merkley initiated an indirect legal protection trial on June 7th. This move was intended to avoid tax reviews requested by the Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA) in three of the four municipalities where he holds a concession.

On May 15th, CAPA requested Aguakan to review their fiscal status in the municipalities of Benito Juárez, Isla Mujeres, and Solidaridad. The company resisted the audit and filed for an indirect legal protection suit. However, this attempt also failed as a Control Judge denied the request, stating that suspending the audit would be against the public interest. The ruling reaffirmed that Aguakan is not above the law.

Residents living in the municipalities where Desarrollos Hidráulicos de Cancún S. A. de C. V. operates are acutely aware of the company's poor service. In Cancún, a significant portion of the city, including parts of the Hotel Zone, experienced water shortages during the peak tourist season of "spring breakers". In March 2024, a lack of coordination from Aguakan resulted in widespread water outages, affecting numerous areas and leaving residents and tourists without access to water.