Quintana Roo Disappearances Rise as Officials Downplay Crisis

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — During his routine Monday press conference, Quintana Roo Attorney General Raciel López Salazar dismissed rumors of an increase in kidnappings across the state. He asserted that only one documented case had been recorded so far this year, which was successfully resolved with the victim rescued and suspects apprehended. According to his statements, the incident was classified not as a kidnapping but as a dispute between criminal groups.

However, while López Salazar focused on the legal definition of kidnapping—which requires a financial demand for the victim’s release—he did not address the surge in forced disappearances and illegal deprivations of liberty by criminal organizations, where no ransom is demanded. These cases, often involving violent score-settling among criminals, remain a growing concern due to their frequency and high numbers.

Discrepancy in Official Data

Official records fail to fully reflect these crimes, creating a misleading perception of the security situation. Meanwhile, Quintana Roo has gained national attention for its alarming disappearance rates. In 2025 alone, the state has reported 165 missing persons: 119 men and 46 women.

According to the National Anti-Kidnapping and High-Impact Crimes Coordination (CONASE), Quintana Roo ranks 21st nationally in kidnapping incidence. Yet, many forced disappearances or illegal detentions by armed groups are not investigated as kidnappings, despite their violent nature.

Recent Cases Highlight the Crisis

Between May 24 and June 1, at least seven individuals were reported missing in southern Quintana Roo, as documented by Diario Cambio 22. Among them were a 19-year-old man and a woman forcibly taken from her home by armed assailants. Authorities have yet to clarify these cases or classify them as kidnappings, despite the circumstances.

Institutional Narrative vs. Reality

While officials aim to mitigate negative perceptions of security to protect the state’s tourism image, forced disappearances and "levantones" (abductions) persist across Quintana Roo. The omission of these incidents and the institutional narrative’s inconsistencies have further eroded public trust in the justice system.