Villas Otoch Paraíso, the most dangerous area in Cancun

The Villas Otoch Paraiso neighborhood, in Cancun, has become the most dangerous " shantytown" in the tourist area; not a day goes by without shootings, blood, death, mourning, and pain. This Wednesday two minors lost their lives in an armed attack, perpetrated by other youths who are part of criminal groups that fight over the area.

The events took place in the early hours of the morning, shortly after midnight, in block 104 of the Villas Otoch Paraíso neighborhood, which includes regions 259 and 260 of the municipality of Benito Juárez, on the outskirts of the Mérida exit. One of the young men was shot in the head and another in the thorax; the other, a 17-year-old minor, was shot three times, once in the leg, one in the arm, and one in the jaw. The first died at the scene; the second died in the hospital.

Twelve percussion bullet casings, one body, and two motorcycles were recovered at the scene. A day earlier, another 17-year-old minor of Tabasco origin, identified as Luis Antonio R.C., was shot at in region 259 of this dangerous neighborhood, when he was in the corridors of the buildings on Orquídeas Avenue, block 104 of region 259.

In broad daylight, 3:30 p.m., the victim was shot in the femur, tibia, jaw, and right arm. Executions in this area, which is a red hotspot of insecurity, are a daily occurrence; last Thursday the body of an executed subject was dumped in front of the "Sentimientos de la Nación" school in this populous neighborhood.

Last Friday, around 6:00 a.m., neighbors of the school in region 259 observed the body lying on Margaritas street at the corner of Bugambilias street in front of block 105, with marks of violence. Over the weekend, a 24-year-old man who was in front of a SIX beer store was executed last Saturday in this region 259, manzana 107.

On Saturday, another armed attack took place when gunmen on a motorcycle shot at young people drinking alcoholic beverages in front of a house, leaving three of them injured. One died and two were taken to the hospital seriously wounded.

Violence in this favela is all over the place. On the same "International Women's Day", a woman was arrested in this neighborhood for stabbing her husband in block 107 of region 259. In this peripheral region, there is not a single day that goes by without hearing the sirens of patrol cars and ambulances, and the indiscriminate sale of alcohol and drugs is rampant.

Families live in fear and anxiety, their children are in danger of being invited to join criminal groups, women do not go out at night if you are a visitor you might not make it out alive. Fear is everywhere here," Alejandro Malpica said on his social networks. Faced with the wave of violence, arms trafficking, shootings, and murders, many people have begun to emigrate from this neighborhood, there are dozens of signs in the windows of the houses announcing, "For Sale", "For Rent".

Last December, municipal authorities organized a "Concert for Peace" in this dangerous neighborhood, known for its high rates of violence, crime, and drug trafficking, it is not known if the neighbors were threatened or were afraid, the reality is that almost no one attended the event, except the authorities and organizers.

In Cancun, there are more than 250 irregular settlements, where there are certain levels of insecurity and violence, but Villas Otoch Paraiso, located in the urban periphery is undoubtedly the most unsafe area in Cancun.