Unauthorized Baggage Handlers at Cancún Airport Charge Tourists Up to $50, Officials Report

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Unauthorized baggage handlers operating without permits at Cancún International Airport are charging tourists up to $50 for basic luggage assistance, according to airport workers and officials.

The individuals, described by authorized personnel as a “mafia,” target first-time visitors, particularly elderly travelers and those unfamiliar with the airport layout. They approach passengers arriving at Terminals 2 and 4, carry luggage to check-in counters, and then demand fixed fees—up to $50 from foreign tourists and over 500 pesos from Mexican nationals—for minimal distances.

Authorized baggage handlers, who work for tips and wear visible identification, say the unlicensed operators have been a problem for years. One veteran service provider, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, stated: “We are properly uniformed, with visible credentials and represented by our association. They have no identification and scam tourists, undermining a profession we have dignified for decades.”

The worker added that attempts to bring the unlicensed handlers into compliance have been met with violence and hostility.

A National Guard officer suggested the operators exploit legal loopholes, presenting themselves as assistants for tourist transport vans with permits from the SICT (Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation). While waiting for their next vehicle, they illicitly solicit customers.

Authorized personnel allege complicity from the National Guard, suggesting arrangements allow the unlicensed handlers to work on the concourses. During a visit to the terminals, individuals without the mandatory Airport Use Card (TUA) were seen fleeing when approached.

Airport workers with over 25 years of experience are urging authorities to clear the federal zone of these schemes, which they say damage their livelihoods and the image of the Mexican Caribbean.