In Cancún, Quintana Roo, a judge has sentenced two Cuban men, Yosbel Lázaro Planas Pita and Roinel Morejón Rodríguez, to four years and six months in prison for abducting a fellow Cuban and demanding $8,000 for his release.
The ruling was announced by the head of the Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office (FGE) during a Peace Table Cabinet press briefing, as reported by local media.
The Abduction: How It Unfolded
The incident dates back to mid-April 2024, when the victim—whose identity remains undisclosed—arrived in Cancún. Shortly after, he was forcibly taken to a property in the Los Héroes housing complex, located in the Supermanzana 224 area of Benito Juárez municipality.
According to the FGE, the convicted men "confined and threatened him, warning they would harm him unless his family paid eight thousand U.S. dollars." The victim was held captive and monitored continuously until he managed to shout for help during a moment when his captors were off guard.
The distress call prompted swift action by police forces, who entered the premises, rescued the victim, and apprehended Planas Pita and Morejón Rodríguez on the spot.
Sentencing and Controversy Over Charges
After evaluating the evidence presented by the prosecution in an oral trial, the judge found both men fully responsible and sentenced them to prison for the crime of aggravated illegal deprivation of liberty.
Nevertheless, the ruling has sparked debate in local media and on social networks, particularly due to the disparity between the described events and the legal charge applied.
The news outlet Diario Cambio 22 criticized the sentence as "lenient given the severity of the acts" because the prosecution opted not to charge kidnapping, which would have involved sentencing under harsher laws.
In Mexico, kidnapping for ransom can lead to sentences ranging from 20 to 40 years—or up to 80 years in aggravated cases—under the General Law for the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes of Kidnapping. In contrast, aggravated illegal deprivation of liberty carries much lighter penalties.
QR Ahora questioned, "Why wasn't the case treated as kidnapping when $8,000 was demanded for his freedom?" The FGE has not publicly clarified the reasoning behind this charge decision.
Recurring Patterns in Quintana Roo
A noteworthy aspect of this case is that both perpetrators and the victim are Cuban, differing from typical extortion patterns against migrants. Cancún has increasingly become a hotspot for such crimes targeting fellow nationals.
In June 2023, ten Cuban rafters were kidnapped in Mexico, with a $9,000 ransom demanded. In July 2025, three Cubans managed to escape from a safe house in Cancún and sought help from the National Guard.
Investigative reports have further revealed the operations of the Cuban mafia in Quintana Roo, a network active since at least 2009 that traffics, kidnaps, and extorts Cuban migrants, demanding ransoms up to $10,000 from relatives in the United States.
Under Article 13 of Mexico's National Code of Criminal Procedure, the sentences for Planas Pita and Morejón Rodríguez might still be upheld, altered, or overturned by a higher court, as stated by the FGE in official releases.
Understanding the Legal Implications of Kidnapping in Mexico
What are the legal differences between kidnapping and illegal deprivation of liberty in Mexico?
In Mexico, kidnapping for ransom involves severe penalties ranging from 20 to 40 years in prison, or up to 80 years in aggravated situations. Conversely, illegal deprivation of liberty, even if aggravated, results in significantly lighter sentences.
Why was the case against the Cuban nationals not classified as kidnapping?
The FGE has not provided a public explanation for not charging the case as kidnapping, despite the ransom demand, leading to criticism of the lenient sentencing.
Is the Cuban mafia activity prevalent in Quintana Roo?
Yes, investigative reports indicate that a Cuban mafia network has been operating in Quintana Roo since at least 2009, engaging in trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion of Cuban migrants.