Tulum’s Alarming Crime Epidemic: Woman Found Dead

In the Tumben Ka'a neighborhood of Tulum, a woman was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Her body was discovered on a vacant lot on the afternoon of Monday, February 3. Pedestrians returning from work found the body on 10th North Avenue, near the boundary of the Amari subdivision, and immediately called the emergency services.

Upon arrival, Municipal Police officers confirmed the discovery of the woman's body. She was found face down, dressed in denim shorts and a blue blouse, without shoes. Her identity remains unknown. The area was cordoned off to allow the State Attorney General's Office to begin their investigation and remove the body.

This incident marks the tenth femicide in Tulum this year. Tulum has a high crime rate compared to other areas in Quintana Roo, according to the Executive Secretariat of the Public Security System. Recent data revealed that the city reports 5,826 crimes per 100,000 residents. It also leads in intentional homicides, with a rate of 226.91 cases per 100,000 residents.

Tulum also ranks first in various types of theft, including violent theft (224.85), home thefts (265), and vehicle theft (359.48). The city's homicide rate has remained alarmingly high. In 2021 and 2022, there were over 200 homicides per 100,000 residents, a situation the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified as an epidemic.

Researcher Carlos Barrachina Lisón, from the Mexican Institute of Strategic Studies in National Security and Defense, noted that Tulum is one of the most violent cities in Mexico. It is only surpassed by Fresnillo, Zacatecas, which has a murder rate of 177 per 100,000 residents.

Data on femicides in Quintana Roo is limited and mostly outdated, dating back to 2019. That year, 6,088 investigation files were reported for crimes against women. Of these, 0.3 percent were femicides, 2.8 percent were homicides, and 0.8 percent were rape cases.

Sources: Maya Sin Fronteras, La Opinión de Quintana Roo