Quintana Roo (Cancun/Tulum) local turf war

6 gangs are fighting for a big tourist pie

Since the attack on the BPM Festival in 2017, Quintana Roo had not seen major violent events until some weeks ago during the shootout outside a hotel in Puerto Morelos. This is due to the ramping fight between six gangs affiliated with major Mexican drug cartels.

The main criminal activities for these gangs are: drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking and money laundering.

The main place they operate: main avenues, main beaches, casinos, strip clubs. More than half of the legal established businesses around Quintana Roo are either owned by criminal gangs or allow their presence and activities.

These are the main gangs around:

• Los Pelones: a secession from Cartel del Golfo and responsible for the most recent attacks in Tulum and Puerto Morelos.

• La Barredora: along with Los Compich are fighting against Los Pelones for Cancun, Tulum and Puerto Morelos specifically. This group is specially invested in generating business ties with local authorities and officials.

• La Gente de Aquiles: a group belonging to Los Árzate, with strong ties to Cartel de Sinaloa and responsible for most of the street drugs dealing.

• El Cártel de Cancún: operates as a branch of the Cartel de Sinaloa. Responsible for the area of Benito Juarez and Isla Mujeres.

  On top of these gangs, Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion is also strongly present by alliances with smaller local gangs who once were working under Cartel del Golfo and Los Zetas.

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