Two threatening banners appeared early Friday morning in El Cuyo, a small coastal fishing village in eastern Yucatán, marking a rare display of organized crime activity in one of Mexico’s safest states.
The cloth banners, known as narcomantas, were hung on a pedestrian bridge and along the road leading into the town, which sits on the border with Quintana Roo. Local residents discovered them around 6 a.m. and immediately notified authorities.
According to reports, the messages accused certain individuals of extortion and made threats against unnamed targets. State police quickly removed the banners, and the Yucatán Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation.
El Cuyo, located about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northeast of Mérida in the municipality of Tizimín, is known for its pristine beaches and laid-back atmosphere. The town serves as a gateway to the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and attracts visitors seeking a quieter alternative to Cancún’s resort areas.
While narcomantas are common in other parts of Mexico—particularly in states plagued by cartel violence—they remain exceptionally rare in Yucatán. The state consistently ranks as one of the safest in the country, with homicide rates far below the national average.
This incident comes as authorities across the Yucatán Peninsula have noted increased organized crime activity along the Yucatán-Quintana Roo border. The region has seen occasional territorial disputes as criminal groups seek to control trafficking routes and extortion rackets in tourist areas.
In recent years, similar banners have appeared sporadically in Quintana Roo, particularly in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, where rival groups have clashed over control of drug sales and other illicit activities. However, such displays in Yucatán proper remain uncommon.
Security experts say the banners often serve as psychological warfare between criminal organizations or as warnings to business owners who refuse to pay protection money. The practice allows groups to claim territory and intimidate rivals without direct confrontation.
Yucatán Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena has maintained that the state will not tolerate organized crime attempting to establish a foothold in the region. State authorities have increased security measures along the border with Quintana Roo in recent months.
The appearance of these banners has rattled residents of El Cuyo, a community that largely depends on fishing and small-scale tourism. Many locals expressed concern that such incidents could damage the town’s reputation as a peaceful destination.
No arrests have been announced, and authorities have not disclosed whether the threats mentioned in the banners were directed at specific individuals or businesses in the area.
The incident underscores the challenges facing even relatively peaceful states as criminal organizations expand their reach throughout Mexico. While Yucatán has successfully maintained lower crime rates than most of the country, proximity to Quintana Roo’s tourism corridor presents ongoing security concerns.
Federal and state authorities continue to coordinate efforts to prevent the type of violence that has affected other parts of the peninsula from taking root in Yucatán.
What to Know:
• Narcomantas are cloth banners used by criminal organizations to threaten rivals or intimidate victims
• Yucatán consistently ranks among Mexico’s safest states, with violent crime rates well below the national average
• El Cuyo is located in Tizimín municipality, approximately 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Mérida
• The town sits near the border with Quintana Roo, where organized crime activity is more prevalent
• Authorities removed the banners within hours of their discovery and opened an investigation
Sources: Diario de Yucatán, Milenio, InSight Crime reports on organized crime in the Yucatán Peninsula