Cancún, Q. Roo — Quintana Roo has become the state with the highest incidence of human trafficking in Mexico, both in absolute numbers and per capita rates. This alarming reality has prompted state authorities to push for a comprehensive legal reform to combat the crime more effectively.
Rising Cases and National Impact
From January to April 2025, 57 human trafficking cases were recorded in Quintana Roo, representing 34.3% of the national total (166 cases). The state also reported the highest rate per 100,000 women in the country, at 5.46.
By May 2025, the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office had opened 63 investigations into the crime. The severity of the issue is further reflected in the number of victims rescued: between July 2023 and June 2025, authorities freed 564 individuals, including 88 children.
Of the rescued victims, 422 were Mexican nationals, while 142 were foreign nationals from 14 countries, including Colombia, China, Cuba, India, and Norway. During the same period, law enforcement conducted 98 raids and detained 79 suspects allegedly linked to trafficking networks.
Government Response and Legal Reform
The state government has launched prevention campaigns, established an anonymous tip line (800 55 33 000), and trained over 1,000 public servants and tourism sector workers to improve victim detection and support.
Due to the sustained increase in cases and emerging criminal tactics—such as familial trafficking disguised as child labor—the state is updating its anti-trafficking laws. María Haddad Castillo, Undersecretary of Human Rights, stated that the reform aims to align state legislation with current social dynamics, enhance the functionality of the Interinstitutional Commission, and harmonize with the National Program Against Human Trafficking led by President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration.
Haddad Castillo emphasized that Quintana Roo is the only state in Mexico currently revising its anti-trafficking laws. "Some states don’t even have legislation on this issue. We are going further, seeking modern, realistic, and functional laws," she said.
The reform seeks to strengthen institutional coordination, ensure effective penalties, and better protect vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, and adolescents. Haddad Castillo noted that child exploitation under the guise of labor or family assistance has become a growing concern.
A Coordinated National Effort
The updated law will improve collaboration between agencies such as prosecutors’ offices, municipal governments, and the Secretariat of Citizen Security. It also aims to refine penalties and accountability measures.
Haddad Castillo stressed that the existing law was designed to coordinate prevention and victim support efforts but requires modernization to address evolving criminal methods. The reform aligns state policies with national strategies to eradicate human trafficking, a crime that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.
The state’s efforts highlight the urgent need for legal and operational improvements to dismantle trafficking networks and protect victims.
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