Las Dunas real estate project on Yucatán’s Chuburná coast shut down amid protests and corruption claims
Environmental organisations have organised a march in Mérida to denounce the Las Dunas real‑estate development on the Chuburná coast of Yucatán, warning that the project threatens native dune vegetation and coastal protection. The development, led by Designia Desarrollos and owned by Víctor Manuel Abraham Palomo, plans to build dozens of luxury apartments, towers, pools and commercial areas on a roughly 92,000‑square‑metre site.
State, municipal and federal authorities issued the necessary permits, but activists allege a corruption network involving the state government, the Progreso mayor’s office and federal environmental agencies. In response to the outcry, Mexico’s environmental enforcement agency, the Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Profepa), posted closure seals on the construction site, halting work while an investigation proceeds. The case is recorded under file PFPA/YUC/092/IA/2026 and investigation number ExpPFPA/3712/354/0080‑26. Earlier, the federal agency Semarnat had rejected the project in 2023 before approving it later after plan changes. The closure follows sustained opposition since heavy machinery began clearing dune vegetation earlier this summer.
Entities: Designia Desarrollos · Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Profepa) · Salvemos las Dunas collective · Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) · Víctor Manuel Abraham Palomo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Alleged corruption involving the state government of Mauricio Vila Dosal, Progreso mayor Julián Zacarías Curi, and federal agency heads José Alberto González Medina and Guillermo Porras Quevedo helped (a1ece9f6-6648-4123-bfbc-21e97d92f00d)
- [● 2 SOURCES] State, municipal and federal authorities granted permits for the Las Dunas project, including approvals from Semarnat and Profepa. (83b9a5e6-0574-40c8-a0b0-4d0f854dbb37)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Semarnat initially denied the Las Dunas project in 2023 but approved it later after changes to the urban development plan. (aafc25d3-b392-47d3-8dcf-00a736f6c8d8)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Profepa placed closure seals on the Las Dunas site on a Thursday, halting construction. (aafc25d3-b392-47d3-8dcf-00a736f6c8d8)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A protest march was scheduled in Mérida to oppose the Las Dunas project. (83b9a5e6-0574-40c8-a0b0-4d0f854dbb37)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Designia Desarrollos, owned by Víctor Manuel Abraham Palomo, is the developer of the Las Dunas project. (a1ece9f6-6648-4123-bfbc-21e97d92f00d)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Las Dunas development plans to build 138 apartments across 14 towers on a 92,017‑square‑metre site. (aafc25d3-b392-47d3-8dcf-00a736f6c8d8)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An investigation into the Las Dunas project is recorded under case file PFPA/YUC/092/IA/2026 and investigation number ExpPFPA/3712/354/0080‑26. (aafc25d3-b392-47d3-8dcf-00a736f6c8d8)