Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — The Secretary of Citizen Security (SSC) says five men were arrested Tuesday morning during a clash with police. The men were taken into custody after attacking SSC officers who arrived to stop illegal land clearing.
According to the SSC (Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana), the group of men were clearing the land illegally to promote invasions. Officers responding to the report of heavy machinery being used to fell trees on the extension of Benito Juárez Avenue were met with violence.
The group attacked the responding officers with rocks, sticks and machetes. A Molotov cocktail was used to set a SSC bus on fire, which police said, “burned to the ground”.
In an official statement Tuesday, Playa del Carmen authorities confirmed the men are a group of linked to illegal invasions and had been illegally clearing ejido common land in order to promote another invasion.
SSC “To the people of Playa del Carmen: The Government of Playa del Carmen reports that this morning, in coordination with the Secretariat of Citizen Security, an operation was carried out to stop illegal deforestation on a property in the Playa del Carmen ejido (common land), where heavy machinery was carrying out unauthorized clearings and promoting land invasions.
“During the intervention, a group of leaders linked to illegal invasions attacked police personnel with rocks, sticks, machetes, and even a Molotov cocktail, which caused a Municipal Police bus to burn to the ground.
“Thanks to the professionalism of the officers, no injuries were reported, and five men were arrested, as well as the seizure of the machinery carrying out the illegal work.
The detainees and the machinery were handed over to the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), and the Secretariat of Citizen Security will file the corresponding complaint for damage to public property.
“The Municipal Government will not allow deforestation or illegal land occupation and will act with the full force of the law to defend Playa del Carmen’s environmental heritage and territorial order. We call on citizens not to be fooled by those who profit from the people’s needs by promoting illegal invasions, destroying green areas, and endangering everyone’s safety.”
