Mexico City, July 26 – Criminal networks dedicated to property dispossession have found a new, highly profitable avenue in the real estate sector. In many cases, properties seized illegally from their owners are either sold to developers or rented out temporarily, generating millions in illicit gains, experts confirm.
Dispossessed Properties Used for Temporary Rentals and App-Based Accommodation
Rodrigo Meneses, an academic from the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE), highlighted that criminals are even utilizing dispossessed properties to offer temporary rentals to migrants or as accommodations listed on popular applications. This practice underscores the evolving methods employed by these illicit networks to monetize their illegal acquisitions.
The criminal organizations operate by immediately processing the regulation of these illegally acquired sites. Following this, they offer the properties to developers who, despite being aware of these modus operandi, can acquire them at significantly reduced costs. Meneses raises critical questions about the extent to which this dispossession contributes to new urban constructions.
“One of the big questions we ask ourselves in all of this is how much the practice of dispossession is contributing to the construction of new spaces in the city; how much new constructions and commercial plazas are being developed on properties that were originally dispossessed from their legitimate owners,” Meneses stated.
Illegal Sales and False Judicial Auctions
Beyond temporary rentals, these networks also engage in illegal sales. Attorney Marco González, who has extensively documented this criminal phenomenon, explained that some real estate companies are integral to these mafias. They legalize dispossessed properties and put them up for sale through fraudulent judicial auctions.
González has identified 36 companies involved in this scheme, leading to the arrest of 14 individuals. These networks often publish or replicate property listings from legitimate platforms like Century 21 or Inmuebles 24 to falsely claim legitimate ownership.
The Deceptive Tactics: False Promises and Documents
Criminals lure unsuspecting buyers with promises that the properties will be free of any legal disputes within ten months. González recounted a case where a victim paid a 300,000 MXN down payment for a dispossessed property. The criminals presented forged documents, including fake deeds, to substantiate their false claims of ownership, while the original owners were still embroiled in legal battles to prove their rights.
González also identified Marcos Serrano as one of the key operators in these dispossession networks. Serrano reportedly impersonates a bank employee, offering solutions to mortgage debtors. In this initial contact, victims hand over a specific amount of money. Subsequently, Serrano uses forged documents to create the impression that possession has been ceded, enabling him to put the property up for a fraudulent auction.
Impact on Mexico City’s Real Estate Landscape
The proliferation of these dispossession rings has significant implications for Mexico City’s real estate market and urban development. It not only creates a climate of insecurity for property owners but also raises ethical and legal concerns regarding the origins of new constructions and commercial developments across the city.
The ongoing investigations and arrests indicate a concerted effort by authorities to combat these sophisticated criminal operations. However, the intertwined nature of these networks with seemingly legitimate real estate practices presents a complex challenge for law enforcement and urban planners alike.
The CIDE academic’s observations suggest a deeper systemic issue where illicit activities might be inadvertently fueling certain segments of the construction boom in Mexico City, urging a closer examination of the supply chain of properties entering the market.
Source: https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/07/26/capital/ofrecen-redes-de-despojo-alojamiento-temporal-por-app-en-cdmx
