In 2024, Yucatán saw 462 cases of drug dealing reported to authorities, representing an 18.15% increase compared to 2023, according to the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System.
Reports from the National Defense Secretariat, revealed through “hacking,” indicate that major Mexican drug cartels such as the Sinaloa, Gulf, and Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) cartels operate in the Yucatán Peninsula and other southeastern states. Local cells, like the Epitacio family, are primarily involved in cocaine and marijuana dealing.
State authorities report that the most commonly seized drugs in Yucatán include marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, crack, and crystal. Crystal is the most consumed drug in the state, followed by crack and marijuana.
The first month of 2025 already shows significant activity against drug dealing, with nearly 300 kilograms of drugs seized and 16 people arrested, including key figures like Helbert Armando Bautista Epitacio, leader of the Epitacio Cartel.
Yucatán, considered a national reference for security, faces an increasing challenge with the rise in drug dealing cases. In 2024, the state recorded 462 cases, reflecting an 18.15% increase from the previous year.
Authorities conducted 32 operations against drug trafficking in 2024, resulting in 71 arrests across various towns, including Mérida, Progreso, Motul, Kanasín, Conkal, Valladolid, Panabá, and Dzidzantún.
Drug dealing cases in Yucatán have increased over the past few years, with significant spikes in 2019, 2022, and 2023. During the first three months of Joaquín Díaz Mena’s term as governor, 92 cases were reported, with marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, crack, and crystal being the most confiscated drugs.
Recent arrests include high-level criminals like Aldrín Miguel Jarquín Jarquín, the CJNG plaza boss in Colima, and Wilberth Bautista Epitacio. Authorities also seized significant drug shipments, including 7,200 doses of crystal meth and 10,800 doses of fentanyl in Mérida.
Yucatán is part of the drug trafficking route, with packages of cocaine washing up on its beaches. In 2024, Quintana Roo had the highest incidence of drug dealing in the Yucatán Peninsula, followed by Yucatán and Campeche.
The increasing number of drugs dealing cases in Yucatán highlights the growing challenge the state faces in combating this crime. Continued efforts and collaboration between local and federal authorities are essential to address this issue effectively.
Source: Diario de Yucatan
