*Updated Apr. 16*
Cancún -
Eight people were found executed in this city today, all apparent victims of continuing drug war violence along the Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo state.
In the first incident a dead male was found in a residential neighborhood. He was bound and gagged, and his body had been wrapped in sheets and left on a street. Authorities have not released a cause of death or other details.
In the second case the bodies of five men and two women were found in a house in another area. All died from asphyxia, according to preliminary forensic reports. Those victims also had been bound.
Today's executions raise the city's 2013 narco violence death toll to 34.
Cancún has been in special security status since late last month. Cancún under first "Red Alert" in its history, while authorities focus on local Los Zetas-Gulf Cartel links. In early March tourist resorts in the state were flooded with troops and police under a program known as "Boots on the Ground." Cancún prepares for influx of spring breakers with strong display of military muscle.
But the violence has not abated. A Mar. 14 machine gun attack on a Cancún tavern left seven dead, as a bloody turf war among vicious rival drug cartels and regional crime gangs continues to "heat up the plaza," in the vernacular of Mexico's 76 month old drug war.
All of this was predicted by reliable local press sources months ago. Two cartels unite to declare war on Los Zetas in Cancún, foreshadowing a "bloodbath" in Riviera Maya. Most English language media rarely reports Riviera Maya violence.
Q.R. governor Robert Borge acknowledges that his state is security challenged (Quintana Roo governor admits: many Cancún taxi drivers are on cartel payrolls), but he continues to insist that overall, the region is the safest in Mexico (Yucatán safety continues to be subject of hot debate).
Apr. 9 - Yucatán tourism remained flat in first quarter of 2013
Apr. 15 - The victims in the second case were kidnapped and killed only a few hours before they were discovered Sunday morning, authorities report. All had been beaten severely before their deaths, and two of the bodies were decapitated. They were found at a notorious drug house frequented by local customers. Police say the seven may have had connections to the Los Zetas cartel, which is under fire from competitors throughout Quintana Roo. The group was seized by a team of hooded gunmen at a Cancún bar around 1:00 a.m., and taken to the place of execution. Witnesses said a group of men in two vehicles shut down the street while a team guarded the entrance of the house where the murders were carried out. The bar where the seven were kidnapped, El Rinconcito de la Salsa ("The Little Salsa Corner"), is reportedly close to city hall.
In the first case the victim was a man about 25. Investigators believe he was asphyxiated by heavy tape wrapped tightly around his face. Witnesses at El Rinconcito told police that the commandos carried off eight customers. Whether this victim was a member of the group in the bar is unclear.
Cancún authorities have reported that late yesterday afternoon, they detained three men whom they believe participated in the killings. All are said to be members of the Gulf Cartel, which is becoming increasingly active in Quintana Roo (Expanding Gulf Cartel likely behind three recent Riviera Maya atrocities). One of the men had photos of the deceased victims in his cell phone. They were arrested, not surprisingly, traveling in a taxi, carrying bags of marijuana and crack cocaine. Two are cabbies.
Apr. 16 - At a press conference yesterday, Q.R. state prosecutor Gaspar Armado García Torres said that a total of seven Gulf Cartel executioners have been arrested in connection with Sunday's murders in Cancún. The purpose of the mass killings was to send a clear message to chapulines (independent drug dealers), and to those working for Los Zetas, that they should align themselves with Gulf. Those who refuse the offer don't get a second invitation.
Several of the arrested men confessed to having participated in other brutal executions in recent weeks. They killed the seven victims at the drug house by strangling them with rope. The youngest, a 17 year old girl, was pregnant. García Torres confirmed that the eighth victim - the man whose body was found wrapped in sheets in another part of town - was killed for pocketing crack cocaine he had been instructed to sell on the street.
Apr. 2 - Mexico's March drug war tally was 1,025 dead, with Jalisco state in fourth place nationwide
© MGRR 2013. All rights reserved. This article may be cited or briefly quoted with proper attribution or a hyperlink, but not reproduced without permission.
shocker. This could be a tipping point in tourist enthusiasm for Cancun.
ReplyDeleteOh please. Goofy young US tourists, with a few more dollars in their pockets than brains in their head won't pay a bit of attention to this at all.
DeleteWere any of these people killed tourists from anyplace?
Strike Boston off the 'cities to visit' list as well.
ReplyDeleteComparing Boston to Cancun is ridiculous. The killings in Mexico are in the tens of thousands, systematic and sadistic. The entire "Riviera Maya" has turned into a battle ground for small change drug dealers who compete with each other for very small stakes. This is the very sad part, the poor pay way more of their share. And, it seems the less the reward, the greater the cruelty.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Boston's tragedy today has nothing to do with Cancún's nightmare that won't end.
DeleteAnd what I particularly agree with is your observation that "the entire Riviera Maya has turned into a battle ground for small change drug dealers who compete with each other for very small stakes." The seven young victims kidnapped from the bar and cruelly executed a few hours later were petty pushers working on commission for Los Zetas. They were killed by competitors who worked for the Gulf Cartel. Neither victims nor executioners are receiving anything more than pocket change, and none of them are guaranteed to see the sun rise tomorrow. They do what they do to eat, literally. That's why I'm pleased that Mexico's new president appears to be focused on jobs, education and opportunities for millions in this country, where the median age is only 26. See:
http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2013/03/enrique-pena-nietos-three-smart.html
Recent Canadian tourist to Cancun, Playa Del Carmen area. Very alert and cautious individual who feels this website is for the sole purpose of downgrading Mexico as a tourist destination. If you don't buy drugs or use drugs or consort with drug users, do always travel outside your resort with intelligence and keep decent hours, you will have no more risk of injury from the Mexican people than at home in any other country. The average Mexican is honest, hardworking, friendly, cheerful and respectful. If you are insulting, overly aggressive, or foolish, you will get into trouble just like at home. The hotels form threes to fives are clean and safe. The activities are varied and very reasonably priced. The tourist system is well run and efficient if you pay attention and follow instructions with a little patience. My entire large extended family has traveled to the area many times with very few problems none being with the people of Mexico. Typical holiday woes though rare have consisted of lost luggage, or self inflicted wounds like dehydration, too much tequila, too much spicy food, raw foods, drinking tap water, sunburn and accidents, just like at home. Give Cancun the reports they deserve, if you stay in the tourist areas and pay attention just a bit, the holiday memories are spectacular and yes you will come back.
DeleteWell, anonymous sir/madame, I've published your junk comment just to demonstrate that MGR does believe in freedom of expression, even from people afraid to just say who they are. But I think most MGR readers will quickly figure out that you're either an angry travel agent, or someone totally living in another universe. One thing is clear: you are profoundly ignorant of Mexico - other than what's going on at your comfy five star resort hotel, perhaps. Cheers.
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ReplyDeleteThe "murder happens everywhere" counter-argument is rational and does have some validity, but I'd like to point out that from an expat/vacationer standpoint:
1. Mexico is a foreign country, and thus less familiar and potentially more threatening to US/Canadian tourists. When violence does occur it can be more of a travel deterrent than if similar violence had occurred at a domestic destination.
2. Cancun's image of sun drenched beaches and carefree partying mainly attracts spring breakers and honeymooners. Psychopathic drug gangs waging warfare around you is kind of a turn-off.)
3. Don't at least some visitors to Cancun also come to Merida? Even if this violence isn't occuring in Merida, I worry that this is going to have a ripple impact in Merida. Even if you argue Merida is totally safe, if it's perceived as too risky to visit nearby destinations such as Cancun, Veracruz, Acapulco, or drive back to the states, can you really afford to ignore this? I think anyone thinking about buying real estate or opening a business in the area would be foolish to not carefully consider this risk.
With respect to your point #3, I'll note this:
DeleteI lived in Mérida for two years, and I never had the slightest fear. I'd go back tomorrow without hesitation, if I had some reason or purpose or desire to do so.
But visiting a city, even as a "long stay" resident, is one thing. Investing in a home and/or business is a whole different matter. I would not do that, not now or anytime soon. I'm not picking on Mérida, by the way. I feel the same way about many other parts of the country (although not Guadalajara or Mexico City, which, despite challenges of their own, are fundamentally secure because of their huge size and enormous political and commercial importance to the nation).
The problem with Mérida and the Yucatán is that both are right next door to Quintana Roo, and Q.R. is a war zone - there's no other way to put it. The large expat community in the White City, mainly Canadians and Americans, are kidding themselves if they don't recognize that the fire could quickly spread west. To have all or the majority of your wealth and net assets invested in such a place is risky business, especially for retirees or folks whose earning years are past.
Mérida experienced a taste of narco violence in 2008: http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2011/11/us-greatly-disturbed-by-yucatan.html.
Then last September, a Sinaloa Cartel boss was arrested right in Alta Brisa - a very good area: http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/09/routine-traffic-stop-in-merida-yields.html.
There is plenty of empirical evidence that wealthy narcos live and invest in Mérida: http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/12/merida-millionairess-convicted-on-all.html.
What will happen if one of these days their cozy little agreement to peacefully co-exist erupts into open warfare? That's happened throughout Mexico, so why should Mérida be immune?
Those who peddle the wonderful "life style" change which Mérida purportedly offers never talk or write about these topics. One of the most prominent is a crassly commercial web site, well established and doing its best to make a buck off every transaction involving a foreigner. You'll never read about violence on their page, or the very anemic peninsular economy which is likely to get worse in the years ahead.
Mexico's drug war, domestic violence, common crime and endemic institutional and cultural challenges will be issues for decades, despite the fact that most Mexicans are wonderful people. But their country may not be the best investment and/or relocation destination for most foreigners at this point in the nation's history.
But isn't constant gushing about animal rescue centers and new (Gringo owned) restaurants so much more appealing to read about than ugly reality?
DeleteIndeed . . . and we all know EXACTLY which URL address to use to find that idle junk, don't we?
DeleteI do, you do, and I am sure most of your readers in Yucatan do. It is hard to avoid, it is omnipresent in Merida. What is amazing however is how many of the English speaking community treat it like the gospel. If an event has not been 'listed', it isn't worth going. If a restaurant has not been 'reviewed', it isn't worth eating at.
DeleteWhat about Puerto Morelos for safety?
ReplyDeleteSee:
Deletehttp://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/02/cancun-narco-violence-claims-fifth.html
http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/03/lawyer-allegedly-tied-to-los-zetas-drug.html
The question of safety in Puerto Morelos relies heavily on which activities you intend to participate in. If you don't plan on dealing drugs or becoming a power Zeta lawyer, your most immediate dangers are probably a hangover a sunburn and perhaps a twisted ankle from a pot-holed road or sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteWell put, and how accurate you are. Also, don't buy a vehicle with any kind of a trunk. Perhaps an open bed pickup truck.
DeleteDrugs are the scourge of society.
ReplyDeleteYes - and the biggest myth of the drug war, one being aggressively marketed north of the border, is that legalization would tidy up all the problems. What those apologists for the scourge fail to appreciate is that drug cartels are about much more than drugs. They're about extortion, human trafficking, forced prostitution, the weapons trade and anything and everything else which, by definition, is illegal. The European Police Office noted so just last week:
Deletehttp://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2013/04/mexican-drug-cartels-have-strong.html
Last fall a survey showed 79% of Mexicans are opposed even to marijuana legalization in this country, and believe it would lead to increased narco violence. Dante Haro Reyes, a public policy expert at the University of Guadalajara, concluded that legalization of marijuana in the United States could be disastrous for Mexico, as organized crime groups wage war to monopolize drug sales (which, of course, they're already doing).
What part of this do U.S. drug legalization advocates not understand?
http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/11/mexicos-incoming-pri-government-pays.html
Granted, legalizing drugs over here wont eliminate Mexican crime. All the other crimes you mention will still go on, but drug trafficing would eventually dry up. If marijauna is legalized in all fifty states, it wont be imported from Mexico - it wont need to be. Distillers and brewers over here weren't killing each other last time I checked. Marijuana will be legalized over here - in all fifty states - sooner than later, but the other drugs will never be, so Mexicos trafficing problem is not going anywhere soon.
ReplyDeleteBoston compared to any city in Mexico, seriously? You must be a travel agent or a time share broker from San Miguel de Allende. One big difference, in Boston there is an investigation and the pursuit of the bomber will go on until he, she or them are captured or killed. If a Mexican citizen, who happened to be visting or maybe participating in the Boston Marathon, was among the injured or killed, the pursuit of the bomber will be no less. However, let's say you're a female tourist, from anywhere in the world and visiting Playa del Carman, and you're assaulted, will you feel comfortable reporting it to chief of the tourist police?
ReplyDeleteInteresting article and great comments, I didn't realise how much it had hotted up there.
ReplyDeleteYes, in the words of the local prosecutor and press, "se calienta la plaza" - the plaza's heating up. The plaza refers not to a place, but to drug trafficking and collateral crime which is running rampant in Quintana Roo.
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