Child Pornography Cases in Quintana Roo Far Exceed Official Count, Activists Warn

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Authorities in Quintana Roo have received 25 formal complaints of child pornography so far this year, but activists and civil organizations warn that the actual number of cases is far higher, with an estimated 80% going unreported.

According to the National Crime Traffic Light (Semáforo Delictivo Nacional), only two out of every 10 such incidents are reported to prosecutors. This underreporting, known as the “black figure,” obscures the vulnerability of victims and hampers efforts to design effective public policies to protect children from these criminal networks.

Last year, the state recorded 150 cases of corruption of minors. Judicial reports indicate that adults are behind these crimes, either by committing abuse or generating illicit income at the expense of children’s physical and psychological integrity, using digital platforms to distribute material.

Under the Quintana Roo Penal Code, any adult who participates — actively or passively — in acts of bodily exhibitionism or pornography involving a person under 18 commits the crime of child pornography, which carries prison sentences.

Despite the work of numerous public institutions and NGOs focused on eradicating this crime, authorities acknowledge that organized crime continues to successfully monetize such material due to a persistent underground market with clients worldwide, making transnational prosecution difficult.