Cozumel News Vol 7

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Ultramar director Germán Orozco Sarro announced that his company would invest 80 million pesos in the construction of a new pier in Cozumel.

He informed that there would be a number of obstacles and difficulties in developing this particular project in Cozumel. He cited the Molina group's attitude toward competition, and their desire to continue the 40-year monopoly they have maintained in this area.

Orozco Sarro stated that they don't have a definite date in place for initiating the project, but feels that the construction is well worth the effort. "Here in Cozumel we're in a stranglehold because they attempt to fix the problem by enlarging the old ferry pier, which is like giving an aspirin to someone who has cancer."

Citing marine turtle behavior this season as "rare", ecology director Nicolás Carrillo Fajardo informed that sea turtles' arrival this season has been behind schedule and in fewer numbers.

He explained that the behaviors of both the "caguama" and "blanca" turtles have resulted in the lower number of turtles arriving at eastside beaches to leave their eggs. He went on to say that up to this point they have registered 42 nests in total between the two species of turtle, with approximately 5,200 eggs. The director compared these figures to last year' s when they had recorded 120 nests at the end of June - a number considered low at that time compared to previous years.

Carrillo Fajardo added that based on these statistics, the season will probably be extended an additional 6 weeks or so beyond September, which is normally the final month for monitoring sea turtles and their eggs.

While dive shops within the national reef park have not been closed down, authorities have confiscated some of their equipment. Rafael Muñoz Berzunza, a goverment environmental delegate, informed that this action was< a preventative measure to ensure that the park area continues to be protected and that permit and user fees are being collected and paid.

The delegate signaled that the action taken by the agency some days ago when they seized equipment was strictly according to the law. However, because those businesses have begun the process of normalization, the equipment is being returned.

Muñoz Berzunza commented that charging user fees is an obligation for every service provider within this protected area and they took this drastic
action to send a message to those businesses that were not fulfilling their duties.

Two radar guns used to detect speeders should get to Cozumel in about 15 days. They are being shipped along with 3 "alcoholmeters" which will provide for a more efficient department of public security.

Public security director Rudy Eroza Navarrete indicated that in actuality they have 3 radar guns, which are obsolete, and they have been unable to secure repair parts from the U.S.

He added that these particular guns were donated by a group of American residents, and were very effective, but at this time they are inoperable.

A family of drug distributors in Cozumel could be sentenced to prisons terms of up to 25 years. The Federal Agency of Investigation arrested five individuals last Wednesday, including alleged ringleader Mario Antonio Cob< Lugo, alias "The Whale". Armed with search warrants for two different houses, authorities seized 122 grams of cocaine and bag after bag of rock cocaine. The capture and subsequent arrest of "The Whale" and his gang is credited to the Cozumel federal agency of investigation, reinforced by members from the Cancún office.

The alleged drug dealers will be charged within 72 hours of their arrests, unless defense lawyers request an extension of an additional 72 hours. Depending upon the charges levied against the five individuals, they may be sentenced to serve as much as 25 years in prison and pay fines figured at 350 days times the minimum daily wage.

As mentioned, the detainees include the apparent gang leader Mario Antonio Cob Lugo, alias "The Whale"; his mother Florencia Lugo, 64 years of age and known as "The Grandma"; and family members José Edwin "El Tostón" Valdez Kú; Francisco Alonso Ku Tzuc a.k.a. "The Panda", and Maria Manuela Valdez Kú.

"The Whale" and "The Grandma" are both related to Guillermo Foster who was arrested in 2001 in a special sting operation and is currently serving 11 years in Chetumal.

At that time Foster was considered to be the key figure on the island and both he and his nephew Guillermo were charged. Then in 2002 we reported
that military investigations had revealed that federal, state and municipal police were involved in drugs sales in Cozumel.

On this occasion, an anonymous call to the military commander resulted in the capture of four individuals and the seizure of 327 bags of cocaine, cell phone and photography equipment, and 6,905 pesos. In addition, investigators recovered books containing drug orders, client names and drug prices.

Despite valuable information gathered in these earlier arrests as well as a number of complaints filed by Cozumel residents since 2002, authorities were unable to gather sufficient evident for search warrants until now. Unnamed sources say that closing down this particular family business is a severe blow to organized drug distribution on the island. The FAI states, however, that they haven't ruled out the existence of additional gang members and will continue their investigation.

Tourism director Raúl Marrufo doesn't expect an increase in cruise ship arrivals during the summer months, however, he anxiously awaits an economic boost from tourism just the same. Marrufo assured that he expects to see a big increase in tourism and hotel occupation thanks to the addition of Aerocaribe flights between Cancun and Cozumel.

Because national tourists don't tend to spend in the same way as foreign visitors, local restaurants and small hotels can hope to see their business increase over the summer season.

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