Mérida blockades expose multi-million peso land fraud scheme

Recent blockades and protests on the southern peripheral road of Mérida, Yucatán, have uncovered a large-scale real estate fraud scheme involving the illegal sale of state-owned land in the San José Tecoh neighborhood.

Investigations by the State Attorney General’s Office revealed that a criminal group sold 8×20 meter lots for 50,000 pesos each, primarily targeting young couples and migrants from other states. The group allegedly operated by collecting an initial 15,000-peso down payment followed by weekly installments. To increase profits, the perpetrators reportedly evicted families who missed payments and resold the same plots to multiple victims. Authorities estimate the illicit operation generated upwards of five million pesos across at least 100 identified lots.

A significant aspect of the investigation is the suspected involvement or complicity of officials from the Yucatán Housing Institute (IVEY). Victims reported that individuals claiming to be agency staff met them on-site to discuss