KANASÍN, YUCATÁN — High-ranking municipal officials in Kanasín are allegedly running a multi-million-peso extortion ring that targets local nightlife establishments, according to reports published by Sol Yucatán.
Business owners in the nightlife and adult entertainment sector (giros negros) have publicly denounced local authorities for demanding protection money—commonly referred to as “derecho de piso”—to allow their establishments to operate. Affected owners report being forced to pay monthly bribes of 15,000 pesos ($USD 750) per establishment.
If business owners refuse to comply with the payments, municipal officials retaliate by staging sudden closure operations or deploying police checkpoints directly outside the venues as a pressure tactic to starve the businesses of customers.
The report explicitly names several top municipal figures allegedly involved in the corruption ring: Gabriel Pacheco Canché, Director of Public Shows (Espectáculos); Emilio Herrera Aguilar, Director of Governance; José Luciano Moo Arceo, Director of the Municipal Police; and Leonor Chan Uicab, Chief Administrative Officer (Oficial Mayor) and former mayor of Kanasín.
With over 500 licensed alcohol-serving venues operating across Kanasín, local reporting indicates that the forced collection scheme generates millions of pesos for those involved.
Victims expressed frustration over the systemic abuse of power, noting that attempting to appeal to higher authorities yields severe consequences. One affected business owner recounted reporting the extortion attempt directly to the mayor, only to have his establishment immediately shut down in retaliation—forcing him to eventually pay the monthly quota to reopen.
The serious allegations highlight growing concerns regarding local police corruption and the abuse of municipal regulatory power in Yucatan’s second-most populous municipality. Authorities have yet to release an official response regarding the ongoing complaints.
Source: Sol Yucatán
