Puerto Morelos Slashes Homicide Rate to Zero

PUERTO MORELOS, Mexico — The municipality of Puerto Morelos hosted the 197th Session of the Regional Coordination for the Construction of Peace and Security, where Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz affirmed that security is an inescapable commitment of her administration. A 100 percent reduction in the municipality's homicide rate was reported.

The session featured the presence of all three levels of government in security matters. Mayor Tziu Muñoz detailed financial efforts, including an investment of five million pesos to equip the Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security.

"We are making financial efforts with an investment of more than five million pesos so that our police force has the necessary tools and constant training, in order to be at the forefront and provide peace of mind to the resident population and the tourists who come to our destination," stated the mayor.

Blanca Merari thanked the coordination maintained between the Federation, the State, and municipal security corporations through close communication to combat criminal incidents via permanent operations and surveillance. These efforts have involved the participation of the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR), the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA), and the National Guard.

"Their presence on our streets and in the tourist zone generates confidence in the citizenry, but at the same time is a clear message that we are reinforcing security to protect the assets and integrity of everyone," emphasized the municipal president.

She also mentioned that work is underway on medium-term projects to secure their own facilities for the Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security, in addition to ceding a plot of land to the State Attorney General's Office so it can have representation in the municipality.

In this context, she added that during the State Security Cabinet meeting, the head of the State Attorney General's Office, Raciel López Salazar, presented relevant data regarding the reduction of crimes in the state.

"In Puerto Morelos, for example, we achieved a 100 percent reduction in the homicide incidence rate from the period of January-September 2024 to January-September 2025," he indicated.

The meeting was led by Karen Alejandra Román Flores, Regional Technical Secretary for the Construction of Peace and Security of the Secretary of the Interior, who gave the floor to attendees from the municipalities of Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum. They reported on actions taken in recent days and progress in inter-municipal coordination for case attention and investigations.

During the session, General Guillermo Robles Toscano was introduced; he recently joined the 64th Infantry Battalion of SEDENA in Quintana Roo. He reiterated the institution's willingness to collaborate in surveillance, preventive operations, and reaction operations to safeguard the population from any risk.

The meeting was attended by Lic. Arturo Castro Duarte, Secretary of Government of Playa del Carmen; Rear Admiral CG. DEM José Alberto Rodríguez Cuevas, Commander of the Naval Sector of Cozumel; Julio César Rivas Fernández, Sub-representative of the National Intelligence Center; and Lic. Elizardo Sánchez Espejo, Director of Social Affairs in the Northern Zone of the Secretary of Government of the State of Quintana Roo.

Also participating were Officer Tomás Hernández Marín, head of the State Police detachment in the municipality of Playa del Carmen; Supervisor Alejandro Cruz Mendoza, representing Inspector José Clotilde Cupul Hau, head of the State Police detachment in the municipality of Tulum; Subsecretary Jorge Alexis Zuart Córdova, representing Mtro. Carlos Alberto Montesinos García, Secretary of Citizen Security of Playa del Carmen; Lt. NAV. IMP. Manuel Alejandro Nava García, Municipal Secretary of Citizen Security of Puerto Morelos; Lic. Edgar Aguilar Rico, Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection of the municipality of Tulum; and Lic. Rosario Jiménez Escobar, representative of the National Intelligence Center.