Los Cabos Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez announced the deployment of 20 additional transport inspectors to crack down on unlicensed “pirate taxi” operations in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The mayor reached the agreement after meeting with licensed transportation sector representatives who have long complained about illegal operators cutting into their business.
Ten of the new inspectors will come from the state of Baja California Sur, and ten from the municipal government. Their job: verify that drivers carry proper permits and documentation, and sanction those who do not. The two groups will cover both delegations of the municipality on a rotating basis.
Weekly Meetings and Governor Talks Planned
As part of the agreement, authorities and taxi union representatives will hold weekly working group meetings to coordinate enforcement. A rotating coordination table between the San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas delegations will keep licensed operators informed about inspection activity.
A follow-up meeting with Baja California Sur Governor Víctor Castro Cosío is scheduled for next week. That session aims to broaden the enforcement strategy at the state level. The municipal legal team is also updating regulatory frameworks for traffic and transport authorities, which could lead to formal rule changes.
A Recurring Battle in Los Cabos
The pirate taxi problem is not new. In January 2024, former Mayor Oscar Leggs Castro added 10 municipal inspectors to the State Transportation Directorate after licensed taxi drivers protested. By August 2024, another 10 inspectors were added, bringing the total to roughly 40 at that time. This latest round of 20 new inspectors continues the pattern of escalation.
Pirate taxis are vehicles that operate without required state permits or commercial insurance. They are common at the Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), at hotel zones, and along the Tourist Corridor between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Passengers who use them have no legal recourse if they are overcharged or involved in an accident.
On June 10, taxi unions met with both the governor and Mayor Agúndez Gómez to discuss next steps. Transport industry representatives have also raised concerns that some inspectors have harassed legitimate, federally permitted tourist transport operators while giving preferential treatment to taxi unions.
This story was first reported by the Los Cabos municipal government at loscabos.gob.mx.