You realize that the locals don't pay the same rates we do, right? To call the taxi drivers "mafia" is, IMO, laughable and an insult to the Mafia.
So you are saying a group of people maintaining their complete control over a trade has no resemblance to the mafia. A group that puts out the call and gathers a team to stop buses that may be transporting people for hire by surrounding them and forcing the bus to stop and then holds them until everyone gets in a cab to leave? A group until very recently, had the politicians in their pockets like so many nickels and dimes? They are a pretty powerful union. In MX city, don't let them catch you driving Uber: Uber drivers attacked outside Mexico City airport as taxi drivers demonstrate
That being said a lot of taxi drivers DO charge tourists the set rates for Cozumel. I don't use a lot of cabs, but I have received correct charges many times by these hard working fellows. On the other hand, I do get mistaken for Mayan now and again....
