Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Four police officers who were attacked and abducted in the community of Nuevo Xcan are now stable and out of danger, according to Julio César Gómez Torres, Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Public Security.
The officers — including one woman — were taken captive in an armed attack in Nuevo Xcan, located in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas. They were initially treated at a hospital in Kantunilkín before being transferred to Playa del Carmen for specialized medical evaluation.
“They are currently not at risk of losing their lives or any organic function; they are well, they are stable,” Gómez Torres said.
Security Reinforced in Nuevo Xcan and Rural Communities
Following the attack, authorities launched a coordinated operation involving state and federal forces to increase patrols in Nuevo Xcan, Nuevo Durango, and Cobá. The strategy aims to bolster security not only in tourist destinations and municipal seats but also in rural communities across Lázaro Cárdenas, Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, José María Morelos, Bacalar, and Othón P. Blanco.
Gómez Torres said there is inter-institutional coordination to locate and arrest those responsible, but declined to provide details on the investigation to avoid compromising the State Prosecutor’s Office’s work.
Organized Crime Seeking to Regroup
Regarding the presence of criminal groups in previously quiet communities, the official acknowledged that organized crime is trying to reposition itself as authorities recover territory.
“Crime goes where it can. As the state gains control of spaces, they look for ways to regroup,” he said.
He added that Quintana Roo continues to see a reduction in high-impact crimes in both the northern and southern zones, particularly homicides, and robberies of businesses, vehicles, and homes.
Extortion on the Rise in Southern Quintana Roo
Despite the decline in other crimes, Gómez Torres reported an increase in extortion complaints in the southern part of the state. Complaints rose from two to three cases compared to the same period last year, a trend he attributed to greater public confidence following the actions of the Grupo Centurión task force.
The attack on the officers in Nuevo Xcan has once again raised security concerns in Quintana Roo’s rural communities, where state and federal authorities maintain ongoing operations to contain the advance of criminal groups.
