San Judas Residents Protest Police Over Arrests, Stolen Funds

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A group of residents from the San Judas Tadeo settlement protested outside the offices of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), demanding the release of four individuals they claim were unlawfully detained. The protesters allege that police officers falsely accused the detainees of extortion and stole a significant sum of money intended for the purchase of electrical transformers for the community.

Allegations of Arbitrary Arrest and Theft

Approximately 30 residents gathered outside the FGE, insisting that the four detainees were wrongfully accused of being extortionists and drug dealers. According to the protesters, the arrests occurred on Wednesday around 6:00 p.m. while a neighborhood committee was meeting near the San Judas Tadeo informal settlement. At the time, the group was in the process of handing over more than 100,000 pesos to their representatives for the purchase of transformers to supply electricity to the area.

During the arrests, residents reported instances of police abuse, claiming the detainees were beaten and threatened. They further alleged that officers forcibly entered a home, destroyed property, and seized the 100,000 pesos in cash that had been collected for the transformers.

Detainees Held for Hours Before Protest

The four individuals were taken to a Public Security facility, where they were held for several hours. This prompted an initial protest by San Judas Tadeo residents, who returned the following day after receiving no response from authorities. Upon seeing the detainees again, the protesters noted visible signs of physical abuse and threats.

FGE officials informed the demonstrators that the four were being investigated for alleged drug trafficking and extortion. However, the community maintains these accusations are baseless. The peaceful protest continues outside the FGE, with residents vowing to remain until their detained neighbors are released.

Residents Demand Justice

The protesters insist that the arrests were a pretext to confiscate the funds meant for their community’s infrastructure. They are calling for an investigation into the officers’ conduct and the immediate release of the detainees.

No further statements have been issued by the FGE or local authorities regarding the allegations.