Union's Head Mario Machuca Sánchez meets grisly end in Cancún
In the heart of Cancún, Mexico, on August 4, 2025, Mario Machuca Sánchez, Secretary General of the Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos (CROC) in Cancún, was tragically assassinated in broad daylight in the municipality of Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo.
Machuca was inside a black Chevrolet Tahoe SUV parked outside an automotive dealership when he was fatally shot by assailants on a motorcycle using a food delivery backpack. The attack occurred at the intersection of Kabah and Chichén Itzá avenues in central Cancún around 2:00 p.m.
Following the attack, a coordinated investigation was launched by federal and local authorities. On August 8, three suspects, Ángel Yair Sánchez Ordaz (21), Arnulfo Espíndola Mercado (34), and Guillermo Nieto Martínez (47), were arrested in Mexico City's Venustiano Carranza borough.
Investigations indicate that Ángel Yair Sánchez Ordaz was offered 50,000 pesos and an all-expenses-paid flight to Cancún to carry out the homicide. Sánchez Ordaz was allegedly involved in three attempts to carry out the murder, with the third attempt being successful. However, it is believed that he was asked to commit two more killings but reportedly never received further payment.
The suspects face charges related to homicide and drug possession, as authorities seized marijuana, a cellphone, and identification documents during the operation. The assassination of Machuca has sparked calls for justice and has heightened scrutiny of organized crime's infiltration into labor organizations.
The motive for Machuca's assassination is believed to be linked to his union activities. The investigation is still ongoing, and other possibilities for the motive are under investigation. The tragic death of Mario Machuca Sánchez serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Mexico.
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