Tourists arriving at Cancun International Airport (CUN) are now at the mercy of ‘mafia’ operating in and out of this transportation hub. This follows Uber drivers suspend operations after a series of attacks on themselves and their passengers – the tourists visiting the Mexican Caribbean.
First, you should know that ordering an Uber, Didi or Cabify at this airport is no longer illegal.
In August 2024, the Eighth District Court ruled in favor of Uber drivers, stating that restrictions on ride sharing at CUN openly violated the constitutional right to free transportation.
“The court’s ruling, effective from August 15, 2024, means that Uber drivers will no longer need special permission to operate in airport areas. This decision removes previous obstacles and allows Uber to compete directly with traditional taxi services.” says the official website.
Well, traditional taxi drivers and National Guard members alike agree to disagree.
Even after the court ruling, taxi drivers continue to argue that allowing Uber and other ride-sharing platforms to operate violates federal law. Unfortunately, the National Guard has been seen siding with the taxi unions and cracking down on Uber drivers and tourists.
A few weeks ago, three tourists were harassed, photographed and filmed after taxi drivers called the National Guard to have them arrested for ordering an Uber instead of opting for their frequent excessive fares and poor taxi service.
When one of the women claimed she was free to choose the service “she felt was safest,” police officers placed her in a service vehicle and attempted to take her to the police station.
An Uber driver identifying himself as Antonio M. warns that while legal protection is crucial, “the amparo (legal order or protection for Americans) will not protect you from attacks by [traditional] taxi drivers, the site mafia or even the National Guard mafia at the airport. No matter how much legal protection you have.”
Why are Uber drivers claiming that the National Guard may be involved in illegal activities at CUN? According to an April report by Alejandro García of Quequi News, members of the National Guard allegedly conspired with local politicians to commit crimes at the airport. At the time, these crimes were said to mainly relate to illegal taxi ownership and fraud.
“Illegal operators are underhanded and even protected by company members [the National Guard] because it is an open secret that many of these units [illegal taxis] are owned by civil servants and local politicians,” García said it at the time.
The other “mafia” this taxi driver is referring to consists of traditional taxi drivers, who have been involved in numerous physical attacks on Uber drivers and tourists, vandalism to their vehicles and, of course, infamous scams.
In April, a scam targeting a Canadian tourist went viral on TikTok when a traditional taxi driver charged him more than $1,000 to transport him from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. What made this scam particularly alarming was the involvement of two airport officials.
Despite the court ruling, Imoveqroo, the Mobility Institute of Quintana Roo – the government agency responsible for managing and regulating transportation services across the state – has been criticized for allegedly targeting ride-sharing apps such as Uber.
Commenting on the situation, the Uber driver said: “Imoveqroo continues to conduct operations at Cancun International Airport. You can’t intervene because the National Guard is still conducting operations. In short, no official announcement makes it clear whether you can work or not, whether it is legal or illegal.
Let’s clarify that. It’s legal. As a tourist you have the right to order an Uber without being targeted by the police or harassed by traditional taxi drivers.
“What we are waiting for is for Uber to make an official statement about the amparo and confirm whether they will take responsibility for possible issues, such as fines and detention fees imposed by Imoveqroo, which could amount to 50,000 pesos (approximately $2,446 USD). In addition, there are towing costs,” said Antonio M., adding that Uber drivers risk having their vehicles seized for up to 15 days.
