ARMYs Assist Police in Arresting 8 Criminals for Theft and Scalping at BTS's Day 3 Concert in Mexico

 

BTS is currently carrying out a worldwide tour, traveling through 34 cities and meeting millions of fans across 85 performances. There is nothing more exciting than attending a BTS concert, and it is undoubtedly always an unforgettable experience for ARMYs around the world. From top-tier performances to the electrifying atmosphere are often regarded as true "cultural festival."

However, like any large-scale event, BTS concerts also come with both positive and negative aspects. While most shows have been carried out safely and successfully, several major issues have still emerged. For example, last month's concert in Goyang saw 500 verification wristbands for attendees stolen, while the spread of counterfeit goods, fake merchandise, and unofficial merch became so serious that BigHit Music had to establish a monitoring system and release an official warning to fans during the North American leg of the tour. 

Most recently, in Mexico—where the country has been swept up in massive "BTS fever" after nine years—several criminal incidents significantly affected the atmosphere surrounding the events. However, what caught even more attention was the fact that ARMYs themselves personally intervened and stopped several of those incidents. 

According to a local resident, during BTS's final concert night at Estadio GNP Seguros, as many as 14 tickets scalpers were arrested. These individuals were accused of hoarding BTS concert tickets as early as January this year before reselling them on the secondary market at massively inflated prices. Not only tickets, but the group was also reportedly caught buying up official merchandise early in order to resell it to fans at prices up to ten times higher. 

More notably, during the concert itself, police identified 22 additional suspects who had come to the venue solely to pickpocket and steal phones. Even more impressive was the fact that a group of female ARMYs personally surrounded and restrained eight of the suspects while waiting for police to arrive and take them away.

In reality, the issue of scalpers and ticket speculation had already begun long before the concert took place. During the ticket sales period in January, Mexican ARMYs reportedly submitted around 5,000 complaints to PROFECO after discovering that a large number of tickets had been hoarded by scalpers and resold on the secondary market at outrageous prices. However, neither PROFECO nor Ticketmaster was able to fully resolve the issue before the concerts began.

Meanwhile, on May 6—before the first concert night—Mexican ARMYs also reported that merchandise staff around the stadium openly gave priority access to resellers, allowing them to sweep up products using large sacks and carts. When ARMYs spoke up and demanded that the behaviour be stopped, some fans claimed they were threatened with being denied access to the merchandise area and even threatened with physical violence if they continue protesting.

Exigimos a @HYBEOFFICIALtwt @BIGHIT_MUSIC @hybe_latam que supervise de manera directa la venta de mercancía oficial y que se responsabilice a las personas encargadas de la distribución. No es aceptable que revendedores estén saltándose los controles y llevándose bolsas completas… pic.twitter.com/WGrzPAGkcF

— BTSchartsMX🇲🇽 (@mxcharts) May 6, 2026

Although these unfair situations created frustrating and unpleasant experiences for fans, many people pointed out that at least some justice was ultimately served when several bad actors were arrested directly at the concert venue. What made the situation even more satisfying for many fans was the fact that the criminals were personally handed over to the police by ARMYs themselves.

Once this information was shared online, it quickly spread across social media. Many people were amazed by the awareness, bravery, and capability shown by the female fans.

ARMYs Comments:

1. Scalpers thought they were up against fans and ended up facing an organized tactical force. Those girls are not to be messed with!

2. ARMY girls are more dangerous than a barrabrava (hooligan firm), and I admire them for it. The only thing missing was them hanging the scalpers' shirts on a fence and taking photos and saying, "Come and get them!"

3. Well done! There were people queuing for 8 HOURS just to not be able to buy ANYTHING, even though they had second-shift access. That was the last straw with those people.

4. We ran into a scalper who left huge bags of merch behind and fled because she was afraid they'd be confiscated. Some ARMYs actually looked after the bags for her. We warned them to be careful since people might think the bags belonged to them, but everyone takes their own risks.

5. They should have removed some scalpers right there at the concert to make the experience complete.

6. Unity makes strength. The ARMYs seriously left me dumbfounded with their solidarity. I take my hat off to all of you!

7. So thanks to Mexican ARMYs, the police who arrived at the stadium for the scalpers also arrested 22 pickpockets and recovered 189 phones. This is legendary!

8. Proud of these girls! I hope that one day all ARMYs will feel the same way and won't use the services of resellers, but instead fight against them.

9. They're such badass divas—queens who raise awareness and make an impact.

10. Mexican ARMYs deserved every single surprise song they got. You have no chance of destroying our purple party!