Tulum, a once-thriving tourist destination in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, has been plagued by violence and crime for the past decade. Since 2015, the city has seen over 15,000 people targeted and 428 killed at the hands of criminal gangs.
The situation has become so dire that authorities have warned tourists to exercise extreme caution when visiting the area. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has even issued a warning about violent crime, fraud, and express kidnapping in Tulum.
But it’s not just tourists who are at risk. Residents of Tulum live in fear of their lives every day. The city’s police force has been plagued by corruption and incompetence, with several chiefs being dismissed or resigning due to allegations of ties to organized crime.
One of the most notable cases was that of Lieutenant Commander José Roberto Rodríguez Bautista, who was killed last March after taking office as police chief. His efforts to tackle crime were seen as a threat to the very gangs he was supposed to be fighting.
Rodríguez’s murder is just one example of the violence and corruption that has plagued Tulum for years. The city’s residents have lived through countless incidents of domestic violence, extortion, and forced disappearances.
In 2018, a foreign woman was murdered by a criminal who entered her home to rob her. In 2021, a baby was shot in the head while being carried by her father, who also died in the attack.
The situation has become so dire that Tulum’s residents have lost faith in their police force. They see them as more of a hindrance than a help in combating crime.
As one resident put it, “We’re living in fear every day. We don’t know when or where the next attack will happen.”
Despite the challenges, there is hope for change. A new police chief has been appointed to Tulum, and authorities are working to restore trust between the community and law enforcement.
But until then, residents of Tulum will continue to live in fear of their lives every day. The city’s decade-long struggle against crime and corruption shows no signs of slowing down.
In the words of one resident, “We just want peace and security back in our city.”
Source: Por Esto
