Extortionists Halt Cancún Commuter Vans

Cancún, Mexico — Fear has gripped users of public transportation in the municipality of Benito Juárez following incidents where individuals, unknown to authorities and transport unions, were filmed impeding the operation of commuter vans, known locally as “combis.” The events, apparently linked to drivers who had not paid extortion fees, were captured at the Plaza Las Américas bus stop.

A video circulated online shows at least three people blocking passengers from boarding a van. According to passengers, these individuals operate at various points throughout the city. They are apparently groups of extortionists who call themselves “managers” and act by intimidating drivers who refuse to pay fees imposed under threat.

Following these events transport unions in the municipality confirmed they were unaware of this group and the registered incidents, and stated they would verify the situation. Information was also requested from the State Attorney General’s Office, which indicated it had no knowledge of the case or any related complaint.

The disseminated images show the individuals positioned at bus stops and on avenues, blocking passengers from boarding and redirecting them only towards certain vehicles. According to users, their presence affects the normal flow of transportation, as they prevent some combis from picking up passengers while favoring others from the State Terrestrial Transport service and units known as the “franja.”

Affected drivers assert that these groups function as unofficial “checkers,” who decide which combi can proceed, which must wait, and even how many passengers each operator can pick up. They also indicated that these people often behave aggressively when a driver attempts to continue their route without following instructions.

In the circulated video, one of the subjects is seen holding a list and positioning himself in front of a van’s door, preventing users from boarding. The scene shows him redirecting passengers to other combis, while the affected operator remains stopped, unable to move forward, causing delays and annoyance among those trying to reach their destinations. Although the shared material is brief, it evidences that the group maintains control of the bus stop.

The man’s female companion is also seen confronting those who question the situation and tries to stop them from continuing to record, generating a moment of tension before the video cuts.

Elements of the National Guard conducted patrols in the area, but no arrests were made.

Users indicated that episodes like this are not new and assured that these people operate constantly at different points in the city. They even mentioned that some of these “checkers” have previously been involved in arguments and intimidating acts on other routes, a situation they consider to be increasingly frequent.

“That woman is not doing that to the drivers for the first time; the other time she even tried to take the poor operator’s license,” commented Allison, a regular user, who explained that she uses the Las Américas stop when leaving the university.

Other interviewees expressed their annoyance and mentioned that the authorities should intervene. They also questioned how transit personnel or other authorities did not act on the site, since municipal police are supposed to conduct patrols in that area of Plaza Las Américas.

From January to September, Quintana Roo registered 162 cases of extortion; Benito Juárez accounted for the majority, with 106 complaints, followed by Felipe Carrillo Puerto, according to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System.