Mérida authorities close 28 businesses in Ciudad Caucel

The Mérida City Council has launched an enforcement operation in Ciudad Caucel to regulate street commerce and improve public space usage. During the initial phase at the ‘Los 12 Caminos’ roundabout, authorities closed 28 establishments. Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada stated that the objective is to organize and orient vendors toward legal regularization rather than simply removing them, emphasizing the need to maintain mobility and security.

To ensure transparency, inspectors utilized body cameras to document their actions as part of the ‘Mérida Digital’ strategy. The Mayor also addressed concerns regarding extortion and corruption, asserting a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal demands for money. She urged merchants to report any threats or irregular payment requests to the State Attorney General's Office (FGE), noting that the municipal treasury is the only legal channel for paying rights. These warnings come amid investigations into alleged extortion networks operating in the western part of the city, including Ciudad Caucel.