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Hundreds of National Guard leave Quintana Roo to fulfill border agreement with U.S.

Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Hundreds of National Guard that were sent to Quintana Roo to reinforce security have left the state on orders of the President. Mexico’s President Sheinbaum has ordered the troops leave for deployment along the U.S. border.

On Tuesday morning, hundreds of National Guard boarded military planes at the Cancun International Airport where they left for the northern border. The military personnel have been sent to the border to curb drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, and strengthen surveillance efforts to prevent the smuggling of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico.

This troop movement is part of an agreement reached during the Monday morning between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. Both nations agreed to intensify security efforts without affecting bilateral trade and economy.

The troops that left Quintana Roo early Tuesday had been sent to the state in various stages during 2024 to reinforce security efforts. The elements that left were deployed mainly in Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

In Mexico, at least 10,000 troops have been deployed to strengthen the border, while U.S. authorities have stepped up inspections and seizures of weapons at crossing points.

Officials from both sides stressed the importance of a long-term cooperation strategy to reduce violence related to organized crime and illegal drug and arms trafficking.

It is not known how the departure of the Guardia Nacional troops will affect security around Quintana Roo. Julio César Gómez Torres, the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Quintana Roo, said that the state’s peacebuilding committee will be consulted to identify the affected areas and design a plan to compensate for the loss of the elements.

The secretary acknowledged that the departure of these elements represents a blow to security efforts around Quintana Roo, however, he said Quintana Roo has around 2,800 security personnel, which in his view, is sufficient.

On Tuesday, morning, more than 100 National Guard left the neighboring state of Yucatan. Personnel left on board a military plane at 7:30 a.m. from the Merida airport.

Guardia Nacional at Merida International Tuesday morning.

At least 120 members of the National Guard boarded the federal Boeing 737 in Merida. They will be deployed along the Mexico-U.S. border to be part of the 10,000 members sent to prevent drug trafficking, as agreed between Mexico and the U.S.