Business Owners in Bacalar Allege Threats, Fabricated Criminal Case

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — A couple of entrepreneurs who moved to Bacalar in 2023 to develop a tourism project say they have been threatened and pressured in connection with a criminal case they describe as fabricated, and which they claim now endangers their personal safety and that of their families.

Samuel Jaime Acuña Jenkin and Viktoriya Ankudinova face charges of burglary and fraud, which they deny. They allege the accusations have been accompanied by a climate of intimidation.

“We are receiving pressure and threats. This is no longer just a legal matter; it is a security issue,” the couple said in a statement.

They publicly hold the plaintiff, Luis Justo Carrión Cuéllar — described as an influential figure in southern Quintana Roo — responsible for any harm that may come to them. According to their account, Carrión Cuéllar is pushing a baseless case built on a constructed narrative.

The conflict began over a property in the Cenote Negro area where the couple lived and made investments with prior consent. “We lived there. It is illogical to now claim there was a theft in the house where we resided and worked,” they said. They added that they have witnesses and documents supporting their ownership of the disputed assets. Regarding the fraud allegation, they insisted: “There is no deception; the only thing that can be proven is our investment.”

The case led to the arrest of both entrepreneurs, who spent 47 days in prison. Ankudinova, a Russian national, said she faced vulnerable conditions during that time, including a lack of adequate translation services and timely consular assistance. “It was a devastating experience. I was deprived of my liberty without fully understanding what was happening,” she said.

The couple has called on state authorities to guarantee their safety and review the case file impartially. They argue the process has damaged their reputation and created a tense, risky environment. “This case stems from a fabricated story and has escalated to a point where our integrity is at risk,” they said.

They urged the relevant institutions to intervene to prevent the situation from worsening. “We thank the authorities who have acted objectively and ask that our safety be guaranteed. We trust that the truth will prevail,” they concluded.