Cancun Enhances Tourist Security with 600 Marines, Including Jet Ski Patrols

While Cancun remains a relatively safe destination for its 10 million annual visitors, no tourist hotspot is entirely risk-free. In response to some recent criminal incidents, local government has deployed 600 marines from SEMAR to strengthen security and ensure travelers’ well-being.

With these high visitor figures, the city cannot afford for tourists to feel unsafe—over the last five years, arrivals have increased by around 27%, with Americans and Canadians remaining as Mexico’s most frequent visitors.

The new security strategy, endorsed by Governor Mara Lezama, Secretary of Citizen Security, Omar García Harfuch, and Semar head Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, is based on four fundamental pillars.

These efforts include addressing the root causes of crime, consolidating the National Guard, strengthening intelligence and investigative capabilities, and enhancing coordination within the security cabinet alongside federal entities.

The primary objective is to guarantee the safety of both citizens and tourists across the hotel zone and other areas of the city through “peace-building and pacification efforts,” said Lezama.

The 600 Marines will begin patrolling Cancun beaches and Isla Mujeres this week, supported by four Navy vessels and four jet skis.

In line with this strategy, Quintana Roo’s security will also be reinforced by additional National Guard personnel, the governor stated. Soon, police officers will also be equipped with body cameras to promote transparency, added Lezama.

Is Cancun Safe To Travel To Right Now?

While tourists generally view Cancun and Isla Mujeres as safe destinations, the recent deployment of 600 Marines to address crime has raised some eyebrows.

In recent months, there have been reports of various crimes affecting some visitors and locals, prompting authorities to decisive action.

Right now, Cancun authorities are chasing a criminal gang of Cubans posing as fake journalists to carry out scams and commit crimes.

The “rather friendly” criminals approach unsuspecting people on the streets, using “social engineering techniques”—a set of strategies criminals use to manipulate people—to obtain valuable personal information and gain access to typically restricted areas.

They then proceed to commit crimes such as vehicle theft, extortion, and kidnapping, often showing a high level of violence.

The rising number of cases involving these fake journalists has prompted a police investigation led by the Attorney General’s Office (FGE), according to local news outlets. So far, the gang remains at large.

In related news, leaders of a criminal organization responsible for several murders in the Cancun Hotel Zone were finally arrested last week in Merida.

The “Navy, Army, National Guard, State Attorney General’s Office, FGE of Yucatan and Secretariat of Citizen Security of Quintana Roo have arrested three people, including the leader of a criminal gang dedicated to homicide, extortion and drug dealing, in this municipality,” authorities stated.

Regarding another tragic incident in the area, back in July,  a 12-year-old Mexican boy was killed when men on jet skis arrived at a local beach and opened fire on a group of people allegedly linked to drug activities.

In 2021, a similar attack occurred at a four-star Cancun resort, where heavily armed men arrived on jet skis and opened fire indiscriminately, with no apparent specific target.

Authorities hope that with the professional support of these 600 marines, tourists can focus on what truly matters: enjoying Cancun’s beautiful beaches and special Caribbean atmosphere, free from safety concerns.