Cartel Warehouse Torched to Destroy Evidence

Chetumal — During the afternoon of Wednesday, a warehouse located in the community of Subteniente López, in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, was set on fire after being emptied by residents of the area. According to information gathered and disseminated on social media, hundreds of citizens broke into the property, which was allegedly used as a warehouse by the Cártel de Caborca and is believed to be owned by a capo identified as Valerio Bustillos, also known as "El Monkey Valerio," extracting packages and material considered "compromising" before setting the rest of the location on fire.

Videos circulating online show the inhabitants organized in lines like ants, transporting the packages in vehicles, trucks, and even storing them in private homes. In the recordings, direct instructions such as "set it on fire" and "burn the tobacco" can be heard, evidencing the intention to protect Valerio Bustillos, alias "El Monkey," who is identified as one of the main instigators of violence in the southern region of Quintana Roo. The town appears united, yet paradoxically in the service of those who fuel crime, making it clear that social manipulation remains an effective instrument for criminality.

The operation coincided with the arrival of federal agents who, according to information, came to fulfill a judicial order to conduct a search of the premises.

Inefficient Arrest Efforts?

The government of Quintana Roo has often boasted of having state-of-the-art technology to combat crime. The work has been inefficient when it comes to major criminal figures, unless it is for a change of "criminal administration," as happened with Zurysaday Villaseñor prior to the entry and takeover by the Cártel de Caborca.

In this same vein, despite being one of the most violent criminals in Quintana Roo, why have the authorities been unable to capture Valerio Bustillos, "El Monkey"? It is well known, and now even confirmed, that Valerio maintains a significant power base in the community of Subteniente López; however, according to intelligence sources, he has resided for extended periods in Mexico City, far from the Quintana Roo state government.

Where is the Inter-institutional Work?

The situation also reflects that some state actions seem more oriented towards a change of "criminal administration" than towards truly dismantling criminal networks, as occurred previously with Zurysaday Villaseñor before the Cártel de Caborca entered the area.

Valerio Bustillos, considered one of the most violent criminals in Quintana Roo, maintains significant power in Subteniente López, although intelligence sources indicate he has resided for prolonged periods in Mexico City, beyond the reach of the state authority. This fact raises questions about the effectiveness of inter-agency work and exposes the ease with which the population can be manipulated by criminal elements.

Philosophically, what occurred calls to mind the idea of "believing in the Portuguese and their mirrors": history repeats itself every time someone trades their convictions for empty promises and a superficial shine. Today, the warehouse was emptied and burned by citizens willing to erase evidence, demonstrating the complex relationship between society, authority, and criminality.