Quintana Roo Officials Urge Anonymous Reports of Armed Groups Near Puerto Aventuras

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo officials are asking residents of ranchlands and remote communities near Puerto Aventuras to file anonymous reports about armed groups spotted in the area, saying the tip-offs are needed to identify the gangs and send security forces in.

Cristina Torres Gómez, the state’s secretary of government, acknowledged that criminal organizations still operate in parts of Quintana Roo despite what she described as progress against crime. She said citizen cooperation and stronger intelligence work are essential to stop those groups from expanding into rural communities.

Torres said the State Prosecutor’s Office is investigating to identify the members of these groups and determine what they are doing. When circumstances require it, she added, joint operations involving the Mexican Army and the Mexican Navy can be deployed in areas where armed individuals are detected.

Officials said tips are particularly important in isolated communities, where geography and distance from urban centers make permanent patrols by security forces difficult.

Residents Told Not to Confront Gunmen

Authorities urged residents not to expose themselves to armed individuals and to use anonymous reporting channels so that officials can act through the appropriate procedures.

According to the Secretaría de Gobierno, Quintana Roo has recorded a decline in high-impact crimes, including homicides, along with progress in prosecutorial investigations that have produced charges and convictions against those responsible for various offenses. Officials cautioned, however, that those results do not mean criminal organizations have disappeared, and said security strategies must be maintained and adjusted to conditions in each municipality.

State authorities hold regular coordination meetings with the governments of Quintana Roo’s 11 municipalities to review crime indicators, identify risk areas and set joint prevention and surveillance measures.

As part of the prevention strategy, officials also highlighted the “Las y los Jóvenes Unen al Barrio” program, which currently operates in Playa del Carmen and Cancún with activities aimed at giving teenagers and young adults alternatives for development. The program connects young people with educational, employment, cultural and sporting opportunities and encourages them to take part in recovering and using public spaces, as a way to reduce risk factors linked to crime.

Gun Buyback Pays Up to 32,000 Pesos

Officials also announced the start of a Feria del Desarme, or gun surrender fair, in Playa del Carmen, where residents can anonymously hand in firearms, ammunition and other dangerous objects in exchange for financial incentives.

Payments can reach 32,000 pesos depending on the type of weapon or item turned in, according to the criteria set for the program. The measure is intended to remove weapons from households, lower the risk of accidents and keep those items from being used in violent incidents.

Authorities repeated their call for families in Playa del Carmen to take part in the disarmament campaign as investigations into the presence of armed groups in rural communities near Puerto Aventuras continue.