Hector Berrellez: Cartels Own Tourist Resorts, 37,000 People Disappeared Last Year (Part 13)

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In this clip, Hector Berrellez sheds light on the horrific violence and corruption employed by Mexican drug cartels and the apparent impunity granted by the Mexican government. Hector shares chilling accounts of cartels torturing, decapitating, and murdering their enemies or their families, to intimidate and assert dominance. He also suggests that Mexican holiday resorts, perceived as safe spots by tourists, are allegedly owned by the cartels, indicating a symbiotic relationship between the tourism sector and organized crime. In Hector's view, the ongoing problem is deeply intertwined with governmental corruption, and the only way to tackle it would be through addressing corruption first. However, he admits he doesn't see it happening soon, painting a rather grim picture of the situation's potential resolution.

Interview by: Shawn Prez

[bestservedchill]

Having gotten an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and having lived in a US border town, these are the things you learn about. These things have been going on for years. The cartel do not allow for violence in these resort cities because it is bad for business. They even own clubs and bars on the Mexican border. It doesn't end there. They own restaurants and small businesses, they have politicians and police in their pockets in US border towns. They also own alot of real estate in the US. Almost anywhere in the US where Mexican communities exist, they have investments and ties to the community. There's a whole underworld going on behind the scenes that the majority of the population isn't even aware of. Drugs coming in to the US and money going South. We walk past people everyday, drive next to cars on the street, and are neighbors with people we would never suspect who are a part of this underworld. There are sweet old ladies with kilos in their houses, cars with compartments driving by us and drop offs taking place in garages and restaurants. It would blow your mind if you knew.

[MA_]

I will relate a true story I was part of over 40 years ago to show to you what he is saying is 100% true. In the late spring of 1980 I took my very pretty 19 year old student girlfriend to Ensenada for the weekend. We were returning on a Sunday late afternoon when the sun was beginning to set near Rosarita. A large round rock rolled down off the side of a berm in the middle of the road and my front left tire hit the rock and the car was disabled. I stopped as soon as it happened and my car was partially blocking the northbound right lane. In less than 30 seconds a white Ford LTD had pulled up and stopped in front of my car. Four men quickly got out of the car and surrounded my car with guns drawn. My car was locked and my girlfriends window was up and closed so they could not grab her. I told her forcefully do not open the door or the window. My window had been rolled down and one of the men, I later learned who were Mexican state plain clothed police officers, put a revolver in my face while he tried to unlock the door. Almost like divine intervention was involved because the door lock was stripped and pulled right off with the car door in the locked position. He could not get me out nor could they get my girlfriend out. They were screaming at us in Spanish for less than a minute before they were intimidated by the cars slowly passing by and honking at the scene they were witnessing. They got back in their LTD and sped off. We got out after they left and someone also driving north let us jump into their car and got us across the border. So, this kidnapping and killings of Americans and young pretty women is not new and it does happen.

[deonsmith]

As a black person that grew up in dangerous hoods and survived it's no way I'm going to Mexico for anything. That's not a vacation to me. I don't see any reason to go to Cancun. I don't have to see all of the world.

[GMacII]

This guy is spot on! During the pandemic, I left the U.S. with a one-way ticket to Cancun. I ended up befriending a local, and it quickly became clear that the cartel's presence was everywhere—Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, you name it. They keep tabs on everything (you can’t even SEE them because they look like normal people, older people, people with normal jobs, yet they’re wearing an earpiece). My friend sat me down at a taco spot across from Coco Bongo and told me I was being watched. I mentioned the TSA officer who asked how much money I had when I landed, and I simply responded, “enough.” I left for Playa del Carmen that day, but they were there too. You can’t escape them.

EDIT 1/5/25: Back in Playa del Carmen, and wow, this place has completely transformed. New condos and developments are popping up on almost every block. Russians, Canadians, and the French seem to have taken over, and it feels very safe to walk anywhere, day or night. That small-town vibe? Totally gone.

And for all the “fans” bringing up my 2021 observations about safety—let me clarify: I was making an _objective observation_ at the time. I’ve traveled to over 36 countries, including places like Rocinha and some of the toughest barrios in South America. So, chill.

[harvardvillegas]

My dad worked for federal police in Mexico from the 60's through the 80's and would say there's was an agreement not to mess with the tourist, because of the money they brought in. But now they not honoring that agreement.

[nkosinathindala]

The problem is that people (tourists) don't think such will ever happen to them - until it does.

[Ralfberg]

These are the types of guests I want to see more on here - who really know the underworld and are ready to fight against it. Ex mob bosses and gangsters are interesting to hear, but this is really the type of guys that should get more publicity instead of them

[stussy]

So basically, the Cartels own Mexico. Never go to a country where Cartels run everything. I don't care how luxurious the resort is, I'm not fuckin' with Mexico.

[danradman]

That happened in Iguala in the state of Guerrero, those 42 students had commandeered a couple of buses as was their annual tradition to protest against something I don’t recall, unknowingly a local cartel had put drugs to be smuggled on those buses just prior and when the students accidentally drove off with the drugs in those buses the local cartel had the local police chase them down shooting at them until they stopped the buses and rounded up and shot and killed all the students at the cartel’s direction as proved by the texting between them when eventually it all came out the local cartel lord and police chief were briefly arrested and let go !😮

[vroomkeys]

Yeah….I’m 120 miles from Mexico. No Thank you. Not inviting to go there at all. The people are scary and the stories are true. This sucks.

[whipking]

When I went to Playa Del Carmen, the resort “staff” encouraged us to stay at the resort, resort recommended excursions or the tourist shopping district. I remember them saying DO Not go exploring Mexico on your own. I see why now, geesh.

[derrick]

My sister invited me to Mexico for her wedding, I said naw I’m good. She said it’s Cancun, I said idgaf 🤣🤣

[CashanovaXTREME]

Pure evil. This is what happens when good men no longer oppose evil with force.

[HIPHOPCITIZENSHOW]

Explains why you see these Mexican restaurants in the US with no customers but be in business for years

[seanathan]

This is one of the most terrifying interviews i've ever heard.

Imagine a Karen having a complaint at the resort and demands to speak to the owner and the cartel shows up

[matthewliberatore]

What's the bigger problem.. the Cartels or the USA Federal government ?

[cityslicker]

He look like the Mexican Sylvester Stallone 😂

[breadskii]

I bought weed from the Cartel behind a watch shop in Quantana Roo. 2 days later they went into my hotel room in Playa Del Carmer while I was at the pool, took my cash and wifes jewelery, took money from our locked safe too and then asked us to come up from the pool. We walked up with smiley hotel staff and walked into a room of police. They tried to bribe us, but I was attending the resort with about 125 friends of mine for a wedding. We all walked into the room and stood outside of it. They left. When some of my friends went back to their rooms, they were robbed too. Fuck that place. Community is nice but its too corrupt. This was 2018. Did take a tour of the Mayan ruins which was fantastic but had to have a tour guide who was familiar with cartel and police. They both will rob you, especially the police. Our uber driver picked up somebody at a mall down the street and didn't let them know about it and they set his car on fire the next day. I spent 14 days there, will never go back. and yeah, its pretty much tacos everywhere you go

[gardener]

It's not just in Mexico. I worked in the ski industry from the 80's to the late 90's. The cartel has a stranglehold on the labor force in the tourist industry in the states & has for decades. Everyone I worked with that wasn't a US citizen was being trafficked. It's not just the fee to get across the border. They pay the cartel for their housing, their ID, their P.O. box, their phones, everything. They are indeed debt bonded.