Tulum, Q.R. — Authorities are continuing their investigation into at least 14 surveillance cameras believed installed by a criminal group. The security cameras were found installed along highways in the municipality of Tulum.
Police located the installed cameras hidden in trees and in plain sight. The cameras, which have since been dismantled, are believed owned by organized crime groups.
Municipal and federal authorities took part in the finding and dismantling of a total of 14 cameras last week. They were located illegally installed along 42 kilometers of the Tulum-Cobá highway.
Captain José Roberto Rodríguez Bautista, head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Tulum, reported that the cameras were dismantled during a joint operation carried out this week by elements of the Municipal Police, State Police and Secretariat of the Navy.
“This operation was very meticulous,” he said. “The entire highway was traveled by authorities from Tulum to Cobá to locate and dismantle the illegal cameras. First, an investigation was carried out to see if the cameras belonged to a business or person, but after receiving no response, they were removed,” he explained.
“These cameras did not belong to any individual or to any official security body such as the State Police, the C5, the C2 or the Executive Secretariat,” he said.
According to Rodríguez Bautista, they were also not connected to any security institution, public or private, or to the C2 or C5. It was for this reason authorities believe the cameras were placed by criminal groups to monitor the area.
“This is part of the agreements established in the State Security Board where they agreed to carry out tours in the municipalities to detect, dismantle and remove private cameras that could be related to illegal activities,” he said.
During the search this past week, a total of 14 surveillance cameras were seized. Rodríguez Bautista confirmed that they were placed on public roads without authorization. They have since been handed over to the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) under the presumption of usurpation of functions.
