Cancun, Quintana Roo — A judge sentenced two former taxi drivers to six years in prison for assaulting and robbing an Uber driver in Cancun, the State Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Alex Ivan Cauich Kantun and Yorzua Waldemar Echanove Gonzalez, both former members of the Andres Quintana Roo Taxi Union, were found guilty of aggravated robbery. They were also ordered to pay a fine of 3,112.20 pesos (about $170).
The attack occurred on July 27, 2023, when the victim went to the ADO bus terminal to pick up three Greek tourists. As he loaded their luggage into his vehicle, five uniformed taxi drivers approached and told him he could not transport the passengers, threatening to beat him if he did.
When the driver responded that he was just doing his job, Cauich threw a rock into the car. Echanove then grabbed the victim by the neck while Cauich punched him in the stomach and stole his cellphone. Echanove also took the driver’s wallet, which contained 1,000 pesos in cash.
Both men tried to flee in different directions but were arrested by municipal police officers and turned over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecutor’s office said the attack was motivated by a desire to prevent the driver from continuing to provide ride-hailing services through the digital platform.
