Cozumel, Q.R. — Over a dozen people were taken into custody from various points of Cozumel Monday night in a mass police operation. According to authorities, a total of 16 people were arrested in 12 operations carried out around the island.
The operations were conducted by the FGE (Fiscalía General del Estado de Quintana Roo), National Guard, Navy, Army and State Police. According to the FGE, 12 search warrants were executed around the island Monday night that lead to the arrests of the 16.
One of those arrested has been labeled “a priority target”. During the operations, police seized various drugs and firearms.
The operation was carried out days after a man was shot to death in front of his wife and son inside a Cozumel restaurant. It also came on the heels of a letter sent to authorities by the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) of Cozumel of which partly read “we cannot fail to point out the lack of results of the current security strategy, especially in judicialization and administration of justice.”
The CCE detailed their “indignation at the terrible events that occurred last weekend on the island” referring to several recent shootings. “We never imagined that the day would come when security would sadly become the main pending task to be resolved in our beloved Cozumel.
“We call on the three levels of government to immediately address the escalation of attacks and violent events on the Island of Cozumel, and as always, we reaffirm our absolute willingness to collaborate in whatever is necessary to stop these worrying events.”
The Council also said “we will be especially analytical and critical of both the results delivered by those who have previously held public office and currently, who will once again seek a space in public service, as well as of the trajectory of those who do it for the first time,” referring to the upcoming elections.
The island search operation also came on the same day as FGE head Raciel López Salazar paid a visit to Cozumel Mayor Juanita Alonso.
“The head of the FGE Quintana Roo, Raciel López Salazar, met with the Mayor of Cozumel, Juanita Alonso as part of the coordinated work on security and justice on the island.
“The Attorney General reiterated that he works jointly with the members of the Coordination Group for the Construction of Peace and Security of Quintana Roo in order to maintain tranquility and peace in this municipality,” López Salazar posted.