5 Arrested in Tulum for Rape and Extortion of Sex Worker

Tulum, Mexico — The State Attorney General’s Office has executed an arrest warrant against five individuals accused of rape, following a violent attack on a 19-year-old Colombian woman in Tulum on May 16.

Details of the Arrest

State Prosecutor Raciel López Salazar confirmed the arrests on Monday. The detained suspects include José Benjamín “N,” alias “El Cuervo” (The Crow), identified as the leader of a criminal group operating in the area, along with Cristian Yuriel “N” (“Yuriel”), Fernando “N” (“Gavilán”), Pablo Ramses “N” (“Ramses”), and Luis Ernesto “N” (“Black”).

The Crime

According to the complaint, the victim, who worked as a sex worker, was contacted by one of the assailants through the website “Mil Eróticas,” where they arranged a service. Upon arriving at the agreed location in the Veleta neighborhood, she was ambushed by at least six armed men. The attackers restrained her, stripped her, raped her, and took photographs. They also threatened her, demanding a weekly payment of 2,500 pesos (approximately $150) as a “protection fee.”

The assailants further intimidated her with personal information obtained during the assault and began visiting her weekly to collect the fee. When she later refused to provide additional sexual services demanded by the group, the threats escalated: the payment was doubled, and she was given a photograph from the day of the attack as a warning.

After weeks of harassment, the victim reported the crimes to the State Attorney General’s Office.

Criminal Background

Prosecutor López Salazar noted that “El Cuervo” and “Gavilán” were already linked to a separate case of aggravated homicide after being captured in possession of firearms and drugs. The timing of the arrests of the other three suspects was not specified.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities are investigating whether this group is connected to additional cases of extortion and violence in the region, particularly targeting women in vulnerable situations.