Nearly 20 Cuban Nationals Detained in Cancun for Public Order Offenses

Exterior view of El Torito detention center in Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Nearly 20 Cuban nationals have been arrested in Cancun over the past two weeks for public order offenses, according to local authorities.

Jorge Rivero Pech, director of Cancun’s Civic Courts, said the detainees were taken to the municipal detention center, known as El Torito, for brawls, disturbing the peace, and consuming alcohol or illicit substances in public spaces.

The arrests have been concentrated in the city center, particularly in Supermanzana 23 and along Yaxchilan and Uxmal avenues, where residents have filed frequent complaints.

Rivero Pech attributed the spike partly to a lack of adaptation by some foreign nationals to local social norms. “We make them see that they have to adapt to the situation and to the country, because the complaints have been about disturbing the peace, how they speak, how they behave. Many of them are consuming alcohol or some kind of drug on the street, and that’s why there are many reports,” he said.

The number of Cuban detainees far exceeds that of other foreign nationalities. Colombian nationals rank second in the statistics, though their numbers are significantly lower, Rivero Pech added.

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By Javier Mendez

Javier Mendez covers public safety, law enforcement, and legal affairs in Quintana Roo. He monitors official reports from the FGE (State Prosecutor's Office), the Mexican Navy, and municipal police to deliver accurate English summaries of crime, trafficking cases, arrests, and court rulings affecting the Riviera Maya region.Javier has been covering crime and public safety news since 2023, reporting on cases ranging from felony arrests and human trafficking investigations to court proceedings and organized crime-related incidents across Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal. His reporting provides English-speaking residents and travelers with reliable, timely information about safety conditions in Quintana Roo's major tourist destinations.Javier works closely with official government sources and press offices to verify facts before publication, and maintains an archive of law enforcement communications to provide context for ongoing stories. He is dedicated to accurate, factual reporting on complex safety issues that affect both residents and visitors to the region.For story tips: javier@rivieramayanews.mx