According to Sol Yucatán, former police officers in Yucatán are being recruited by the “Cartel de la Costa,” lured with high salaries and benefits, raising alarms about organized crime’s growing influence in the region.
Ex-Cops Join Cartel Ranks in Yucatán
The Cartel de la Costa, a criminal organization expanding across Yucatán, has intensified its recruitment of former law enforcement officers, according to investigations published by Sol Yucatán. Ex-agents from the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (SSP) and the now-defunct Policía Judicial are being offered salaries averaging 40,000 pesos per month, along with additional incentives, to facilitate cartel operations in the state.
This strategy provides the cartel with recruits who possess insider knowledge of police tactics, local geography, and investigative procedures. Analysts warn that such recruitment strengthens the cartel’s ability to evade authorities and expand its territorial control.
Expansion of the Cartel
Reports indicate that the Cartel de la Costa, born from a fusion of the Epitacio group with independent criminal cells, has rapidly extended its presence. In less than a year, it has moved from operating in a single municipality to controlling parts of 11 demarcations across Yucatán. The cartel is linked to drug trafficking routes from Colombia, moving cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana through Campeche and toward Quintana Roo, with potential distribution channels reaching the United States.
Growing Concerns
- Public safety: The recruitment of ex-police undermines trust in law enforcement and raises fears of corruption.
- Regional impact: Mérida, long considered one of Mexico’s safest cities, is now described as a hub for money laundering tied to organized crime.
- Government response: Authorities face mounting pressure to strengthen oversight and prevent infiltration of security forces.
The infiltration of ex-cops into cartel ranks highlights the fragility of Yucatán’s security framework. Unless decisive measures are taken, experts warn that the Cartel de la Costa could consolidate its influence, eroding the state’s reputation as a haven and deepening the challenges of combating organized crime.
Source: Sol Yucatán
