Mexico City property seizure network prompts new housing protection measures

A criminal network dubbed the “Cártel del Despojo” has been accused of orchestrating large‑scale illegal takeovers of properties in upscale neighborhoods of Mexico City. The operation is allegedly led by lawyer Arturo Aparicio Velázquez, who uses coordinated amparos and social‑media campaigns to occupy homes and demand multimillion‑peso payments. In the first six months, nearly two thousand investigations were opened, sparking outrage from construction workers, housing developers and local residents who call for urgent action by the city prosecutor and courts.

In response, the civil association Víctimas de Despojo CDMX has drafted a set of administrative reforms to be presented to the Mexico City Congress. The proposal seeks stricter registration controls, mandatory biometric signatures on notarized deeds and a unique digital file for each property in the public registry, aiming to detect irregularities early and complement recent criminal‑law penalties. A specialized forum with the city’s Housing Commission is planned to discuss these measures.