Authorities say organized groups are among those exploiting empty properties, legal disputes and fraudulent documents to take control of valuable real estate.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO — Criminal groups in Mexico City have added property seizures to a wider range of illegal businesses, using tactics that can include occupying homes, presenting allegedly false documents and exploiting slow legal processes to wrest control of real estate from residents, according to city officials and recent investigations.
The crime, known in Mexico as despojo, covers the unlawful taking or use of property and has become a major concern for the capital’s government. Officials stress that organized crime is only one part of a broader problem that also includes inheritance disputes, landlord-tenant conflicts, fraudulent sales and occupations by people with no known gang connection. But authorities say some established criminal organizations have incorporated property seizures into operations that already include drug sales, extortion and other crimes.
Mexico City Security Secretary Pablo Vázquez Camacho said in August that authorities had identified at least five criminal organizations whose activities included property dispossession: Unión Tepito, Fuerza Anti-Unión, Los Rodolfos, the Tláhuac Cartel and Los Malcriados 3AD. Authorities have said those organizations do not necessarily specialize in taking property. Instead, investigators believe some cells use dispossession as one source of criminal income alongside other illicit activities. Police have also identified a separate category of people who can be hired to provide force or intimidation during disputes over particular properties.
The methods vary. Prosecutors and legal specialists have described cases involving unauthorized occupation while residents are away, allegedly forged deeds or other records, identity impersonation and simulated legal proceedings intended to create the appearance of legitimate property rights. Mexico City officials have also said investigations are examining possible involvement by notaries, lawyers, public employees and others who could misuse their professional positions. Authorities have not said that such misconduct is present in every case, and allegations against individuals must be proved through the legal process.
Some seizures can happen quickly. Mexico City Attorney General Bertha Alcalde Luján has described cases in which residents left their homes for ordinary errands or medical appointments and returned to find different locks and strangers occupying the property. Other cases involve more complicated disputes over ownership, inheritance, rent or contracts. Those distinctions matter because prosecutors must determine whether a complaint describes a crime or a civil or family dispute before taking enforcement action.
The scale of the wider problem is substantial. A Mexico City congressional document citing official and civic data said 2,509 dispossession cases were recorded in 2024 and that the total had already reached 2,621 by the third quarter of 2025. The same document said family members were responsible for 61% of cases in the data it reviewed, while authorities or organized criminal groups accounted for a much smaller share. That breakdown shows why officials have cautioned against treating every property dispute as the work of a cartel.
Still, the potential profits have drawn concern from investigators and property-law specialists. Lawyers interviewed by Mexican media have described networks that allegedly use false documents, sham proceedings and intermediaries to gain possession and eventually profit from a property. Homes that sit empty for long periods, properties without clear documentation and estates caught in inheritance disputes can be especially vulnerable because establishing ownership or lawful possession may require lengthy administrative or court proceedings.
The city has responded by expanding a coordinated strategy involving prosecutors, police and other agencies. The Attorney General’s Office created specialized investigative mechanisms designed to connect cases, identify recurring participants and examine possible criminal networks. Authorities also have focused on fraud involving legal documents, impersonation, simulated transactions and possible misconduct by officials or professionals involved in property records.
The enforcement effort intensified in 2026. Prosecutors said that between Aug. 5 and Sept. 15 they opened 435 investigations after receiving complaints and confirmed 101 cases as possible dispossessions, including 12 involving violence. By Sept. 22, officials said the broader strategy, including older investigations, had resulted in 267 properties being recovered or secured and 183 cases being taken to court. Some complaints were instead sent to mediation or determined to involve civil matters.
In October, city officials reported further results. From Aug. 5 through Sept. 30, authorities received 573 complaints and classified 121 as confirmed dispossession cases, including 17 involving violence and 104 without violence. Prosecutors said they had secured 67 properties, taken 48 cases into the judicial process and reached successful mediation in 24 others. The figures reflect investigative decisions rather than findings of guilt against any individual.
Authorities have also pursued specific suspected networks. In early October, prosecutors secured three properties in the Tlalpan and Benito Juárez boroughs while investigating what officials described as a group allegedly involved in property dispossession. One suspect was arrested, and investigators said additional arrest warrants remained pending, including some connected to public employees. The cases were still under investigation, and judicial proceedings will determine responsibility.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said Oct. 13 that authorities had secured or returned 221 properties in the previous two months under the city’s anti-dispossession strategy. The government says its approach is intended to speed intervention in clear criminal cases while avoiding wrongful action in legitimate ownership, tenancy or family disputes. Investigations into organized networks and possible official involvement remain active as authorities try to determine how deeply criminal groups have penetrated the city’s property system.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 31, 2026.