Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco -
On Cozumel island, a world famous tourist destination popular with scuba divers, two men whom police say had nothing to do with drug sales or narcotics trafficking were shot to death by an execution squad yesterday morning, apparently the victims of mistaken identity.
Independent dealers in Mexico's drug war, usually referred to as chapulínes, are frequently targeted for elimination by cartels and organized crime. But these victims, 29 and 39 years old, worked in the tourism industry, police said.
Drug sales are a big business in Cozumel, authorities say. Almost all are bought by foreign tourists.
Police are working on the theory that the two men were suspected of being new drug dealers in town, and were quickly noticed by the competition. Quintana Roo's Por Esto called it a case of "confusion," based in part upon the fact that both of the victims had "northern style" features - another way of saying that they were lighter in color than many Q.R. locals, and perhaps were mistaken for Mexican-Americans intent on butting their way into a new sales territory. At least one of the victims had lived in the U.S. for about three years, and his distinct Spanish accent, unusual to local ears, had aroused suspicion as well. For those reasons the men were targeted for extermination. Both victims died from multiple .9 mm gunshot wounds.
No one is in custody, and there are no suspects.
Jan. 16 - Five Los Pelones executioners have been arrested and are charged with Sunday's murders. They'll make their first appearance before a magistrate of the Public Ministry today. For more on the violent Los Pelones, one of three groups which dominate organized crime in Quintana Roo state, note this article and the links within: Two cartels declare war on Los Zetas in Cancún, foreshadowing a "bloodbath" in Riviera Maya.
Routine traffic stop in Mérida yields "Boss of the Plaza" in Cozumel, Playa del Carmen
More dope comes ashore in Quintana Roo
Who's buying the drugs in Quintana Roo's Riviera Maya?
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