On Sunday November 3rd, police and military corporations activated the security protocols for the report of an armed robbery onboard a van that provides tourist transportation services on the Cancun-Tulum highway, and it was reported that a foreign tourist was taken hostage.
Although he did not specify exactly how, in his Twitter account, the Secretary of Public Security of Quintana Roo, Alberto Capella, declared that the woman was already released and in good health.
Tuvimos un asalto a transporte público de pasajeros en donde es privada de la libertad una turista. Las corporaciones locales y federales implementamos un operativo de búsqueda. LA VÍCTIMA HA SIDO LIBERADA en buen estado de salud y seguimos tras el o los responsables d este hecho
— Alberto Capella (@kpya) 3 de noviembre de 2019
The incident was recorded in the stretch between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, in the municipality of Puerto Morelos.
After the report of the assault, the local authorities conducted an immediate search operation, which involved a helicopter, as well as police vehicles on the road, and vessels at sea.
According to preliminary information, the incident was reported to the emergency number 911, the suspect got on board the van that was on its way from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, and according to witnesses, when they reached kilometer 315 of the road to Tulum, the man took out a hand gun and told the passengers to hand over their belongings.
It was also said that some passengers were beaten by the thief, before he ordered the driver to stop, and the he fled taking with him a woman of Spanish nationality, as a hostage.
Agents of the National Guard, the Navy and the Federal Police participated in the operation to release the hostage, but the suspect is still at large.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom