New Injunctions Allege Illegal Detentions, Torture by Playa del Carmen Police

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Two new amparo petitions — legal challenges seeking federal protection against alleged rights violations — have been filed over alleged illegal detentions, incommunicado detention, and possible torture by officers with Playa del Carmen’s Municipal Public Security Department.

According to the Federal Judiciary’s list of agreements published Tuesday, the cases were filed in the Fourth and Fifth District Courts. Both plaintiffs allege deprivation of liberty.

In case 849/2026, filed by Manuel N., the petition was submitted on an urgent basis on July 2. It alleges illegal deprivation of liberty, detention, retention, forced disappearance, incommunicado detention, and torture. The court granted an automatic suspension, a precautionary measure intended to protect fundamental rights when serious violations are alleged, and ordered the municipal security department to submit a report on the incident.

In case 670/2026, filed by Jamal N., a suspension was also initially granted, but the case was later dismissed after the plaintiff failed to appear to ratify the complaint.

In recent weeks, several other amparo petitions have been filed over alleged arbitrary detentions, incommunicado detention, and torture attributed to municipal police forces, according to court records.

The head of the Municipal Public Security Department, Carlos Montesinos, has not issued a public statement about the allegations. The filing of amparo petitions and the granting of provisional suspensions do not constitute a determination of responsibility, and investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.