Cancún Biz Owners Accuse Alleged Cartel Leader of Extortion

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A group of business owners in Cancún has formally filed a complaint with Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR), urging an investigation into Leticia "N," also known as Doña Lety, an alleged leader of the so-called Cártel de Cancún. The complaint follows her judicial release in 2022 and accuses her and her criminal organization of extortion and kidnapping threats against local entrepreneurs.

Allegations of Extortion and Kidnapping Attempts

The complaint details that business owners who refuse to pay extortion fees face threats of kidnapping. One of the complainants reportedly escaped an attempted abduction on February 25 after declining to pay the demanded sum.

The document further alleges that Doña Lety and her associates now impose "protection payments" (cobros de piso) not only on hoteliers and business owners but also on artisans and vendors operating on the region’s beaches.

Judicial History and Release

Leticia Rodríguez, identified as Doña Lety, was first arrested in August 2018 and faced multiple criminal proceedings over three years. Federal judges dismissed the evidence presented by prosecutors, leading to her eventual release.

During a November 2022 press conference by then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Deputy Security Minister Ricardo Mejía Berdeja stated that Rodríguez had been detained in 2017 for cocaine trafficking in Cancún’s hotel and tourist zones. In August 2019, she filed a motion to dismiss evidence, alleging torture. Magistrate Sara Olimpia Reyes García of the Second Circuit’s Specialized Criminal Court ruled in her favor, excluding key documentary evidence from case file 104/2008. This decision led to her acquittal on November 11, 2022.

Current Concerns

Despite her legal exoneration, the complaint asserts that Rodríguez remains active in organized crime, overseeing extortion operations targeting Cancún’s business community. Authorities have yet to issue a formal response to the allegations.

Key Figures Mentioned:

• Leticia "N" (Doña Lety): Alleged leader of the Cártel de Cancún.
• Ricardo Mejía Berdeja: Former Deputy Security Minister.
• Sara Olimpia Reyes García: Magistrate who ruled in favor of excluding evidence in Rodríguez’s case.

The FGR has not publicly commented on whether an investigation will be opened.