Costa Maya, Q.R. — Security along the troubled Tulum-Bacalar highway has been reinforced with elements who are hoping to catch the group of criminals who have been targeting drivers for the past several weeks.
Marco Antonio Mejía Juárez, commander of the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Federal Police station explained that security was reinforced due to the latest criminal events, who at night, assault travelers.
He says that from 7:00 p.m. until dawn, there will be at least two mobile units moving from end-to-end of the section toward Tulum, monitoring the targeted stretch of highway for irregular activity and potential assaults.
“We are strengthening road surveillance in that section where there is no cell phone signal. Although we have maintained the routes, we are placing additional policing for the safety of travelers,” he explained.
Participating in the surveillance operation are elements of the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, the Secretaría de Marina Armada de México and the Guardia Nacional. According to the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), members of the Federal Police, State Police, Rural Police and Municipal Police will also participate.
The move came after a state congress meeting was held Tuesday, which resulted in the Human Rights Commission of the State of Quintana Roo issuing a precautionary measure to la Secretaría Estatal de Seguridad Pública directed by Jesús Alberto Capella Ibarra, giving the organization 24 hours to fulfill the rights to security for those who travel along the highway.
For the past several weeks, groups of criminals have been targeting nighttime drivers with force to stop their vehicles and strip them of their belongings. The would-be highway bandits have chosen a section of highway that is without a cell phone signal.
The latest nighttime assault resulted in the toppling of a tractor trailer outside the town of Nicolás Bravo after the driver of the unit was hailed with rocks by highway bandits.
