22 minors rescued from labor exploitation in Cancún; 2 held

Cancún, Mexico — The Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office announced the rescue of 22 minors who were victims of labor exploitation during an operation that led to the arrest of two adult males. The rescue was carried out after search warrants were executed at four properties located in Superblock 67 of the Benito Juárez municipality (Cancún).

Victims and Conditions

During the operation, authorities took custody of 16 minors between the ages of 10 and 14, all originally from Chiapas, as well as six children ranging from one month to seven years old, who are believed to be the offspring of one of the detained men.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the older children and adolescents—primarily from Chiapas—were forced to sell pozol, a traditional beverage, which they transported using heavy tricycles. The victims were reportedly made to push these tricycles for up to 12 hours a day under harsh conditions.

Modus Operandi

The two suspects, identified only as Julio and Antonio, allegedly recruited minors from the Chiapas municipality of San Juan Cancuc by promising them "well-paid work." They targeted children from marginalized families, transporting them to Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo, where they were subjected to grueling labor.

Despite generating daily profits between 1,500 and 2,000 pesos from the sale of pozol, the children were paid only 100 pesos per day and given two meals. Authorities confirmed that the minors lived in deplorable conditions, prompting their immediate removal and placement under the care of the appropriate child welfare agency.

Legal Proceedings

The two detained individuals were handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, where they face charges related to human trafficking, specifically labor exploitation. A control judge is expected to determine their legal status tomorrow.

The operation underscores ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation in the region, with authorities vowing to pursue further investigations into similar cases.