The Agency for Strategic Projects (Agepro) in Quintana Roo has uncovered a fraudulent network that sells land using forged titles. The head of the agency, José Alberto Alonso Ovando, suggests that this issue has worsened due to the increased demand for housing. The surge in demand is primarily driven by families attracted to the area by the Maya Train project.
The fraudulent group's method of operation involves forging property titles, some even bearing the signatures of former governors like Miguel Borge Martín and Félix González Canto. Despite modern titles having security measures in place, these criminals manage to secure fraudulent cadastral certificates and register the documents in the Public Property Registry.
The most affected lands belong to Agepro in Playa del Carmen, but fraudulent cases have also been discovered in other parts of the state. Fake titles have been identified in Tulum, Bacalar, and Puerto Morelos. In response to these fraudulent activities, Agepro has lodged the necessary complaints and is currently involved in ongoing legal proceedings to halt these illegal practices.
The issue of illegal land occupation is not a recent phenomenon. Since 2016, several families in Tulum and other areas were duped into occupying private and government properties under the false pretense that they were national lands. Despite attempts to regularize the situation, the conflict between settlers and authorities has escalated into violent confrontations.
In some instances, Agepro has stepped in to mediate, striving to find solutions that are beneficial to both property owners and occupants. The objective is to guarantee the legality of the lands and ensure that the settled families have access to basic public services.
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