Two arrested in Playa del Carmen for extortion and arson

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The State Attorney General’s Office reported the arrest of two individuals allegedly involved in extortion and vehicle arson crimes in Playa del Carmen, actions that reportedly affected a local business.

Among those detained is a man of Argentine nationality, identified as a suspected member of a criminal cell dedicated to this illicit activity.

Investigation into Extortion Led to Capture

The capture was carried out through an operation coordinated between the Subdirectorate of Intelligence and the Specialized Group for Combating Extortion (GEPCE) of the Municipal Police, following an investigation initiated by the burning of two vehicles that occurred in the early morning of January 7.

According to the inquiries, Cristian Antonio “N” and Marcos “N” were located while driving through the Centro neighborhood of Playa del Carmen.

The authorities established that the detainees had previously visited the facilities of the affected company, where they collected 30,000 pesos as a result of extortion acts, which included phone calls and direct threats.

The investigation revealed that the alleged perpetrators initially demanded 150,000 pesos and subsequently established a monthly payment of 30,000 pesos, an amount that was recovered during the operation.

Seized Items and Legal Situation

During the arrest, authorities seized various items related to the investigation, including:

• Cash corresponding to the extortion payment
• A burned trailer
• A burned pickup truck

The detainees were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine their legal situation in accordance with legal deadlines.

Finally, the Attorney General’s Office reiterated its commitment to frontally combat crimes that threaten security and economic activity in the municipality.