Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection (Profepa) found illegal logging in the state. Five projects were closed last month around Riviera Maya for lack of permits.
The closures were part of multi-level forestry operation in 28 states across Mexico last month. Inspectors reported the closure of clandestine sawmills and properties, as well as the seizure of forest resources.
From January 28 to 30, simultaneous actions were carried out in critical forest areas across the country to inspect sawmills, properties and the transport of forest products, as part of the fight against illegal logging.
The operation resulted in closures, seizures and administrative and criminal proceedings through the coordination of federal, state and municipal authorities.
From January 28 to 30, the first simultaneous multi-sector forestry operation of 2026 was carried out in critical areas across 28 states. This operation aimed to verify activities related to the forestry production chain,as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal logging, land-use change and the illicit transport of forest products and byproducts in critical forest areas of the country.
The operation was coordinated by the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa). A total of 464 personnel from Profepa, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), municipal ecology departments, the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, the Navy (Semar), the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and state and municipal police forces participated.
During the deployment, 25 checkpoints were set up to inspect transport vehicles, 16 patrols were conducted and 38 forestry inspections were carried out at sawmills and properties with illegal land-use changes.
As a result, 25 closures were carried out. Eight to Forest Raw Material Storage and Processing Centers (CATs) and 17 to properties with illegal land-use changes in forest areas. Additionally, 394.95 m³ of timber, 1,202.4 kg of charcoal, 2,800 kg of agave hearts, five pieces of machinery and 12 vehicles were seized.
“This year we reinforced our operations in critical forest areas. Protecting forests is a priority, and to achieve this, we work in coordination with authorities at all three levels of government.
“Impunity for those who destroy our forest ecosystems is over,” stated Mariana Boy Tamborrell, Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection.
In Quintana Roo, inspectors located illegal change of land use in two municipalities. In Playa del Carmen and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, a total of five properties were closed due to illegal land-use changes.
In Playa Paraíso, 21.6 square meters of medium-height sub-evergreen forest vegetation was affected. In Nuevo Durango–Cobá, two properties were found to be affected, one of 1,050 square meters and the other of 460 square meters,
In the Ejido Felipe Carrillo Puerto, 2.9 hectares of medium-height sub-evergreen forest were found to be affected and in the Ejido X-Hazil, 1.4 hectares of the same type of vegetation were found to be affected.
During the deployment, 25 transport inspection filters were installed, 16 surveillance tours were carried out and 38 forestry inspections were performed.
