Child Trafficking Investigations Surge in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Human trafficking investigations in Quintana Roo have increased sharply since a specialized unit was established in late 2021, and children continue to be found working long hours on the streets of the state’s southern towns, according to authorities and local observers.

The State Prosecutor’s Office opened 263 investigation files from the launch of its Specialized Unit for Trafficking in Persons through May 2024. That represents 2.6 times the number of cases opened between 2015 and 2021, and does not include cases registered in 2025 or this year.

Over that period, authorities rescued more than 74 minors and 127 adults, prosecutors said. At least 38 people have been formally charged in connection with trafficking-related crimes.

Labor exploitation of children remains a recurring problem. In a recent case, police arrested Angélica N., also known as “La Patrona,” on accusations that she used minors to clean and wash corn kernels in Playa del Carmen.

In Chetumal, children are regularly seen selling handicrafts along Avenida Héroes and Boulevard Bahía from early morning until late at night. The park around Fort San Felipe Bacalar, in the nearby town of Bacalar, is another known site where minors are found working.

Local residents say they have lodged complaints with agencies such as Sipinna, the state’s child protection system, and the Othón P. Blanco municipal government, but the situation persists.