Tulum, Quintana Roo — Business owners in Tulum have reported being charged unauthorized fees of between 1,200 and 1,500 pesos to connect their security cameras to the city’s C2 and C5 video surveillance systems. The payments, allegedly demanded as a requirement for obtaining or renewing business licenses, were made without official receipts from the municipal treasury.
During a meeting with municipal officials, representatives from the local business community said the fees were requested after they installed cameras at their establishments and linked them to the public surveillance network. Once the process was complete, a document was issued that was essential for the license application—but only after payment was made.
One business owner confirmed the charges and said that after raising the issue with authorities, officials stated the connection service is completely free. He called for an investigation into the origin of the fees.
Municipal officials reiterated that integrating private cameras into the security monitoring centers carries no cost. In response, business owners requested an internal investigation to identify those responsible for what they described as legally baseless charges.
A businesswoman from the tourist zone, who asked to remain anonymous, said the practice affected numerous restaurant owners and merchants who paid out of fear that their licenses would be delayed or denied.
The private sector representatives urged the city government to publish clear requirements for obtaining and renewing business licenses in an official bulletin to provide legal certainty and prevent future irregularities.
