The Mexican Attorney General’s Office (FGR) is investigating the land routes that Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans are using to reach Campeche and Cancun and their links to possible organized crime cartels. According to the delegate of the security agency, José Ignacio Coronel Cruz, the migrants arriving in Guatemala are being crossed onto Mexican soil through the Suchiate River.
“We have already detected some responsible, but due to confidentiality of the investigation, I could not say more,” Coronel said. “They arrive in Campeche and they are taking them up to Cancun to transfer them from there to northern Mexico.”
But Cubans also arrive by sea in Mexico. Javier Robles, a fisherman who owns a catamaran that he rents out to tourists, tells 14ymedio that the “illegal” arrival of rafters through Cancun “has time and nobody does anything.” This 58-year-old man said that the “coyotes” use the least crowded areas for the landing of Cubans. “The point for arrivals is the Sian Ka’an reserve, an area with little surveillance because its access is difficult.”
Another of the points indicated by Robles is Puerto Progreso, “some groups arrive at this site, although the majority are intercepted by those of the Navy.” Last Thursday, the journalist Fátima Vázquez reported through her page that at least 15 Cubans had disembarked on San Miguelito beach, located near kilometer 13.5 of Kukulcán Boulevard, the main avenue that connects with the hotel zone of Cancun.
“Those who landed on San Miguelito beach know that it is an area with little surveillance, and although tourists come, there are no lifeguards,” said a fisherman.
“Those who disembarked on San Miguelito beach know that it is an area with little surveillance, and although tourists come, there are not even lifeguards to support them in case someone has an accident,” the fisherman stressed. Playa del Carmen is another of the arrival points for migrants, as is Isla Mujeres, where the Cuban baseball player landed in 2015 Andy Arozarena.
Local authorities consulted by this newspaper said they were unaware of the arrival of rafters. “There is no report,” an officer said by phone. “The only Cubans arrested are Yosmany and Héctor for possession of weapons and drugs.” These people have been imprisoned since March 16.
According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, last year 444,439 migrants were detained for illegal entry into Mexico, 42,667 of them were Cubans. Until February, there is a record of 17,023 island nationals who entered with documents.
Meanwhile, the Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees reported that as of last March, 2,596 Cubans requested asylum.
Meanwhile, the United States continues with the return of Cuban rafters. This Sunday they were returned to the ship isaac mayo 38 people to the Island.
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