Cancún, Quintana Roo — Authorities in Quintana Roo have launched a specialized unit to locate 17 foreign nationals reported missing in the state, a major tourist destination in Mexico.
The state’s Search Commission announced the creation of the Foreigner Assistance Unit, which will operate 24/7 to handle cases involving missing international visitors. The unit will coordinate with consulates, embassies, the National Migration Institute (INM), and federal, state, and local authorities.
“We implemented the foreigner assistance unit, which handles only cases involving foreigners and works with consulates, the INM, and other states,” said Hayde Cristina Saldaña Martínez, head of the state Search Commission. She emphasized the need to reduce response times.
The unit’s staff maintains round-the-clock communication with the INM, state prosecutors’ offices, and international organizations to cross-reference biographical and biometric databases to locate missing individuals.
Saldaña noted that one of the biggest challenges is that travelers often change their itineraries at the last minute, move to temporary residences, or leave the country without notifying their families, leading to reports of presumed disappearances that take time to clarify.
At the federal level, the National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons (RNPDNO) reports more than 132,000 people listed as missing nationwide, underscoring the need to strengthen local infrastructure in high-tourism areas like northern Quintana Roo.
Despite the logistical complexity, Saldaña said the success rate for locating foreigners is high. “We have had cases of foreigners; thank God many have been found. For us, the priority is to find everyone safe and sound,” she said.
The commission has also created a 30-Day Follow-Up Unit to review stalled cases, reduce bureaucratic backlogs, and open new lines of investigation.
Authorities urged the public to report missing persons immediately, as the first hours after a report are critical for successful search operations.
