Quintana Roo Prosecutor Opens 106 Investigations Into Crimes Against Students

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Quintana Roo State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) has opened 106 criminal investigations and obtained 14 arrest warrants — 13 of them served — for crimes against students, including sexual abuse, rape, human trafficking and fraud, the agency reported.

The cases stem from the “Prevention through Education” program, which ran from Nov. 8, 2024, through July 31, 2026. Specialized and district prosecutors visited elementary and secondary schools, as well as higher-education campuses, to give talks to students, teachers and administrative staff.

School visits uncover trafficking, abuse and drug sales

Among the cases uncovered, Elizabeth Shekina N. was arrested and charged with human trafficking for allegedly exploiting two teenage students from a secondary school. In Playa del Carmen, authorities found two 12-year-old girls who had been raped, allegedly by their stepfather, identified as Dolores N.; he was arrested and charged.

At Cecyte 1, a student was identified as allegedly selling and distributing drugs on campus. In a separate incident, four teenagers and a 19-year-old were caught in the act near a secondary school carrying more than 600 doses of drugs that prosecutors say were intended for students.

A history of complaints and impunity concerns

These investigations come amid growing alarm over school safety in the state. During the 2025 school year, at least 60 students in northern Quintana Roo needed specialized help after suffering sexual abuse or harassment. The National Association of Parents of Families warned at the time that the figure likely understated the problem, as many victims stayed silent out of fear or shame.

The issue is not new. In the 2023–2024 school year, the National Union of Education Workers reported 30 sexual-abuse complaints against affiliated teachers. Most were resolved administratively in favor of the educators, and only one resulted in criminal prosecution. The state Education Department faced criticism for failing to publish consolidated statistics on sanctions or investigation timelines.

High-profile complaints — including accusations against a teacher at the Vicente Guerrero secondary school in Playa del Carmen and the suspension of a teacher at the Aarón Merino primary school in Chetumal accused of assaulting a 12-year-old girl — have underscored demands for stricter safeguards.

The prosecutor’s office said school visits will continue in coordination with the education department and local governments to prevent crimes against minors and ensure they do not go unpunished.