Narco-Banner in Tulum Demands Federal Action Against Corruption

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Amid a turf war between cartels vying for control of illicit businesses in Tulum, a narco-banner was discovered with a message directed at President Claudia Sheinbaum and Raciel López Salazar, head of the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office (FGE). The banner accuses the institution of corruption, alleging it has “accepted money” from criminal groups. Authorities suggest the message may be a desperate attempt to divert attention following recent high-profile arrests of criminal leaders in multiple municipalities.

Banner Targets State Officials

The narco-banner appeared on the evening of Sunday, June 29, hung on the fence of the Tun-ben Zazil preschool on Faisán Street, between Chun Yam Che and Boca Paila Avenue in Tulum. Signed by the self-proclaimed “Cartel of Quintana Roo,” the text accuses FGE officials of profiting from extortion and drug trafficking.

The incident follows reports from local business owners in January, who warned of escalating drug trafficking in Tulum, claiming narcotics were being openly sold in restaurants and nightclubs, according to a military intelligence report.

Call for Federal Intervention

The banner urges President Sheinbaum and Security and Citizen Protection Secretary Omar García Harfuch to intervene, alleging that corruption within the state prosecutor’s office has fueled violence in tourist-heavy municipalities like Tulum.

“However, this narco-banner is seen as a desperate attempt by criminal groups to shift focus away from recent arrests of key criminal leaders by the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office,” the report notes.

Warning of Continued Violence

The message warns that extortion, disappearances, and homicides will persist unless authorities address what it claims is collusion with rival criminal factions. The text insists it is not a threat but a denunciation of alleged “selling of criminal territories to the highest bidder.”

Witnesses reported that police secured the area and removed the banner shortly after its discovery. The FGE is analyzing the content and investigating its origins. No official statement has been issued in response to the allegations.

Previous Reports of Escalating Crime

The incident underscores growing concerns over organized crime in Tulum. Earlier this year, business owners raised alarms about unchecked drug sales in the area, further straining the region’s reputation as a tourist destination.

Authorities have yet to confirm any direct links between the banner and active criminal organizations. Investigations remain ongoing.