Mayor Accused of Diverting 4.5M in Streetlight Scheme

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — An investigation has uncovered alleged corruption in the Puerto Morelos municipal government, revealing that Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu authorized inflated contracts worth over 7 million pesos for public lighting equipment, with prices up to three times higher than market value. The scheme reportedly involved family members and close associates, with diverted funds also including overpriced equipment for people with disabilities and bulletproof vests for police officers.

Investigation Reveals Overpriced Contracts

Through a transparency request, documentation was obtained detailing the 2024 fiscal year purchases of streetlights. Despite multiple neighborhoods in Puerto Morelos remaining in darkness, only one purchase was recorded—a contract that allegedly tripled the actual cost of materials.

The contract, numbered CPM-LP-ADQ-006-2024, was assigned by Álvaro Masegosa Raña, Director of Material Resources and brother of the mayor’s private secretary, Abraham Masegosa Raña. The contract awarded 7,999,326.07 pesos to the Queretaro-based company Comercializadora MEXQROO for materials to maintain and rehabilitate Puerto Morelos’ public lighting.

Key findings from the investigation include:

• 865 Philips 100-watt LED streetlights were purchased at 6,988 pesos per unit, totaling 6,254,260 pesos (excluding VAT). Market comparisons show the same model costs approximately 2,300 pesos (including VAT), suggesting an overpayment of 4,196,060 pesos.
• 504 galvanized concrete pole arms (1.5 x 1/2) were bought at 720 pesos each (plus VAT).
• 50 kg of bare copper cable (No. 14) cost 21,839.55 pesos (excluding VAT).
• 4,000 meters of No. 14 cable were purchased for 50,039.36 pesos.
• 504 galvanized clamps were acquired at 418 pesos each (plus VAT), double the estimated market price, totaling 210,672 pesos.

The total payment to MEXQROO S.A. de C.V. amounted to 7,999,236.07 pesos, with an estimated diversion of 4,590,664 pesos.

Additional Questionable Purchases

The investigation also revealed other suspicious transactions:

• In 2022, the municipality purchased an amphibious wheelchair for people with disabilities for 261,000 pesos from Chiapas-based Proveedora e Insumos Caribu (Contract AD-ADQ-005-2022). The same equipment currently retails for 43,500 pesos, indicating a sixfold overpayment.
• Bulletproof vests for municipal police were acquired at 6,500 pesos above market price per vest.

Officials Involved

The contract was authorized by Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu and signed by:

• Álvaro Masegosa Raña, Director of Material Resources
• Axel Alejandro Rosado Ramírez, Secretary of Municipal Public Works and Services
• Leonel Alberto Salazar Trejo, Director General of Public Services

The deal was executed during the 2024 election campaign, raising concerns about political misuse of public funds.

Breakdown of Alleged Embezzlement

A detailed review of the documents shows the following discrepancies:

1. Philips 100W LED Streetlights (865 units)
   • Paid: 6,988 pesos/unit (6,254,260 pesos total)
   • Market price: 2,300 pesos/unit (1,989,500 pesos total)
   • Overpayment: 4,264,760 pesos
2. Galvanized Clamps (504 units)
   • Paid: 418 pesos/unit (210,672 pesos total)
   • Estimated fair price: Half the paid amount
   • Overpayment: 105,000 pesos
3. Amphibious Wheelchair (2022 purchase)
   • Paid: 261,000 pesos
   • Current market price (2025): 43,500 pesos
   • Overpayment: 217,500 pesos
4. Other Electrical Materials
   • 50 kg copper cable: 21,839.55 pesos
   • 4,000 meters cable: 50,039.36 pesos
   • Pole arms (504 units): 720 pesos/unit
   • Total suspected overpayment: Over 350,000 pesos

The total estimated embezzlement exceeds 4.5 million pesos, with potential additional discrepancies in police equipment purchases.

Transparency Concerns

The Puerto Morelos transparency unit provided redacted documents, omitting the supplier’s name and representative’s signature. However, invoices confirm MEXQROO S.A. de C.V. as the contractor.

The Quintana Roo Superior Audit Office has not flagged these transactions, raising further questions about oversight.