Tulum Businessman Denounces Year-Long Extortion by Alleged Inspection Officials

Tulum, Quintana Roo — A Tulum business owner and stylist filed a formal complaint with the Quintana Roo State Prosecutor’s Office, alleging that people posing as municipal inspection officials extorted and threatened him for roughly a year.

Carlos Hernández said the individuals, who identified themselves as employees of Tulum’s Inspection Department (Dirección de Fiscalización), came to his business and demanded regular payments. He said he handed over about 2,500 pesos a month for several months.

When he sought information about the people involved, Hernández said he learned that some of them had allegedly been dismissed from the department about five months earlier. The collections and intimidation continued anyway, he said.

Hernández questioned why officials do not publicly notify merchants when such employees are let go, warning that they can keep trading on the appearance of authority to abuse business owners. “How is it possible that this keeps happening without them telling the public they’ve been dismissed, so that no one else falls into their traps?” he said.

He added that at least one of the people he named was still working for the municipal government at the time of the incidents. He said he recently confronted one of them and asked for a receipt for a payment he had made, but the worker refused to provide one.

Threats extended to family

Beyond the alleged payments, Hernández said the intimidation reached his family. He said one of the people he identifies as involved threatened his aunt in harsh terms, an act he considered especially serious because there are minors in his family circle.

“One of them threatened my aunt very badly,” he said.

He urged other merchants who have faced similar situations to file complaints with the Prosecutor’s Office and provide evidence that could help investigators.

Officials respond, protective measures granted

Hours after filing his complaint, Hernández posted a message on social media thanking Sergio Canto, the director of Inspection, for taking up his case and reviewing the allegations involving former department employees. He said the review also identified someone who was still working for the agency, and that the person was dismissed immediately.

Hernández said the State Prosecutor’s Office supported him and granted him protective measures.

He called on other possible victims not to stay silent. “I know that sometimes we are afraid or fearful of exposing them, but behind every business there is a family we have to support, and we all work honorably every day,” he said.