Teens Rescued from Forced Labor in Cancún Taquería

Cancún, Mexico — Three teenagers from San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, were rescued in Cancún after being subjected to labor exploitation at a taquería, where they worked grueling shifts for a meager weekly wage of 800 pesos. The operation was led by the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), with support from the National Guard and the Secretariat of Citizen Security.

Exploitation Under False Promises

The victims, aged 14 and 15, were located during raids on two properties in Supermanzanas 66 and 67 of Benito Juárez municipality. Authorities revealed that the minors had been brought from their indigenous community under the false promise of housing, food, and fair wages. Instead, they endured harsh working conditions with no access to education.

“They worked from 9 a.m. to midnight—cutting meat, serving food, handling payments, clearing tables—and still had to wake up early to prepare barbacoa and salsas,” a source close to the investigation stated. The teenagers sent their minimal earnings back to their families in Chiapas.

Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation

Preliminary findings indicate a case of human trafficking for labor exploitation, prompting the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate a potential criminal network behind the operation. Mario “N,” identified as a suspect, was detained and remains in custody pending legal proceedings.

Following their rescue, the minors were placed under the care of the municipal DIF (Integral Family Development System), where they are receiving medical, psychological, and nutritional support. The FGE has also requested assistance from Chiapas authorities to locate the victims’ families and ensure their safe reintegration.

A Persistent Issue in Quintana Roo

The case highlights an ongoing but often overlooked issue in Quintana Roo: the exploitation of indigenous minors trafficked from southern Mexico to work in conditions that violate their most basic human rights. Authorities have vowed to intensify efforts to combat such practices.