Cancún Residents Report Alleged Illegal Fees for Biometric ID Processing at Civil Registry

Cancún, Mexico — Residents and staff at the Civil Registry office in Cancún’s Parque de las Palapas have reported intermediaries charging illegal fees to expedite processing for the biometric CURP identification card, which is officially free.

Anonymous complainants, who fear retaliation because the registry holds their personal data, said these intermediaries charge between 1,500 and 2,500 pesos for priority service without issuing official receipts, meaning the money does not enter municipal coffers.

They allege the practice operates with the complicity of Civil Registry director Eduardo Kuyoc Rodríguez. They also claim Municipal Secretary Pablo Gutiérrez protects Kuyoc in exchange for political support within the Morena party, as Gutiérrez seeks the mayoral candidacy for Benito Juárez municipality.

The registry distributes only 35 daily appointment slots, prompting intermediaries to approach those unwilling to queue from early morning. Among those allegedly pressuring applicants for payments are several of the director’s assistants, including Yordy Ruiz Novelo, Carlos Ramírez Candila, Orlando Robertos (Kuyoc’s personal secretary), and Ana Karen Oliver Durán, a relative of state government employee and Morena party official Julio Durán Rueda.

Complainants also identified a woman named Karla and another named Librada Dzul as performing weddings without legal appointment as registry officials. They further reported illegal charges for issuing birth, marriage, and death certificates, along with falsified documents and weddings performed by people not legally employed by the municipality.

They have urgently requested intervention from Governor Mara Lezama and Municipal President Ana Patricia Peralta.

State Officials Downplay Irregularities

State Government Secretary Cristina Torres Gómez announced the implementation of a gradual scheme with mobile and fixed modules for biometric CURP processing, noting Quintana Roo is the only state authorized to conduct the procedure through mobile units. She did not specify the number of modules or municipalities where they operate.

Torres Gómez dismissed complaints about bureaucracy and corruption, stating there has been gradual progress in issuing the documents. She clarified that 2026 is the deadline for obtaining the biometric CURP and that currently there are no penalties for those who have not yet processed it.

Fixed locations operate in Othón P. Blanco, Playa del Carmen, and Benito Juárez municipalities. She recommended using only official points to avoid fraud.

The biometric document incorporates fingerprints, iris recognition, and digital safeguards to prevent identity theft. Torres Gómez assured the system meets high security standards for data protection.