Cancún Fires Two Police Officers Caught Using Card Terminals to Collect Bribes

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Two municipal police officers in Cancún have been fired after body camera footage showed them using portable card terminals to solicit bribes from residents and foreign tourists, authorities said.

The Cancún Police Department said the dismissals resulted from a random review and audit of body-worn cameras. The footage captured two members of the Tourist Police unit allegedly engaging in conduct that violated the principles of police work during an intervention, according to a department statement.

Municipal Public Security and Transit Secretary Jaime Padilla Barrientos ordered an immediate investigation by the Internal Affairs Directorate. He also ordered the permanent removal of both officers, who “ceased to be part of this Cancún corporation after losing the trust indispensable for the performance of police duties,” the statement added.

“In the Cancún Police there is no room for corruption, abuse of authority, or any conduct that undermines the trust that citizens place in our institution,” Padilla said in a video message. He added that supervision and internal control mechanisms will continue to be strengthened to ensure officers “honor the uniform with professionalism, honesty, and a vocation for service.”

The dismissals come just over a week after a Cancún traffic officer was suspended following a video showing him demanding $630 (about 10,900 pesos) in extortion from foreign tourists. Mayor Ana Paty Peralta announced the officer’s removal on June 22, reiterating a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption.

Despite the authorities’ statements, such cases are not isolated, with multiple officers having been caught extorting citizens and tourists in recent months.