Ever since Mexicos government began its war on the drug cartels nearly 15 years ago, murder statistics have climbed inexorably. Violent crime and gang activity occur with increasing frequency in Veracruz, particularly in the center and south near Cordoba and Coatzacoalcos. In Fresnillo, 96 percent of residents say they feel unsafe the highest percentage of any city in Mexico. A month later, in May, a three-year-old was shot dead in a church in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, the victim of crossfire in a chase between alleged criminals. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers. Travelers should "exercise increased caution when traveling to" Coahuila, Mexico and . The state has been the backdrop of violent fights between rival cartels disputing territory and control of highways to transport drugs to the United States. I do not want the night to come, she said, through tears. Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide . Police forces work at the scene as they remove a vehicle (on the flat-bed truck) in which 10 bodies were found, left by unknown assailants in front of the Government Palace, in Zacatecas, Mexico, January 6, 2022. For most of the population of Fresnillo, a mining city in central Mexico, a fearful existence is the only one they know; 96 percent of residents say they feel unsafe, the highest percentage of any city in Mexico, according to a recent survey from Mexicos national statistics agency. Zacatecas has become a focus for Amlo's chief security strategy, with the government announcing last November that it would be sending about 4,000 members of the military and national guard to. These include high-traffic tourism areas of border and coastal communities, such asTijuana,Ensenada, andRosarito. Federal and state security forces attended the crime scene and cordoned off the area. In June, the bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were found in Valparaiso in Zacatecas state, in what authorities said appeared to be the aftermath of a gun battle between the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. Violence has. Caught in the middle of the fighting are residents like Guadalupe. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with cadavers found dangling from bridges, stuffed into plastic bags or even tied to a cross. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. A city of beautiful cathedrals and art museums a lot of beautiful art! Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Theres this false sense that we are moving away from a latent state of armed, violent, lethal conflict, said Falko Ernst, a Mexico security analyst at the International Crisis Group. Hugs not bullets doesnt work, said Javier Torres Rodrguez, whose brother was shot and killed in 2018. Nuevo Leon state Exercise Increased Caution. January 30, 2023 / 6:20 AM A street mural shows a young man killed in the Olivares neighborhood of Fresnillo. On Monday the Mexican president addressed the weekends wave of attacks in Zacatecas state, where, a day after a judge was shot dead, cars were set on fire and roads blocked off as inmates at a prison tried to escape. Murillo said that of the five bodies identified so far, three had been detained previously on drug or robbery charges. Local authorities said 10 of the . But be sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip. Last week Mr. Lpez Obrador announced that the guard would receive an additional $2.5 billion in funding. / CBS/AFP. Impromptu roadblocks requiring payment to pass are common. It is very conservative and I believe I got in trouble for being sleeveless (it was hard to say as I dont understand Spanish). Killings are on track to be much higher this year. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Tlaxcala state. Were losing the ability to be shocked, said Javier Torres Rodrguez, whose brother was killed in 2018. Were living in hell, said Victor Pia, who ran for mayor of Fresnillo in the June elections and watched an aide gunned down beside him during a pre-campaign event. Baja California and Zacatecas, in particular, are among the Mexican states with the poorest peace levels. Violent crime and gang activity are common. So you can not say that not many tourists come here. Enter your email address to follow Pulse News Mexico and receive notifications of new posts by email. Zacatecas prosecutors confirmed the identities of the three women, found in a clandestine grave in the town of . Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations. When was the last time you came for a visit? co-director of the research group InSight Crime. Authorities say the gang is waging a violent campaign to take control of drug-trafficking routes. But security experts say the guard, which the president plans to incorporate into the armed forces, has proved ineffective. Crime & Safety Elderly Inland Empire Man Beaten To Death In Tijuana: Report The family of a 79-year-old man killed in Tijuana last month said he was in Mexico delivering donations when he was . An altar for Henry and his two friends who were murdered together in front of Guadalupes house. The towns of Calera and General Estrada are located near the junction of two major Mexican highways (Mexico 45 and Mexico 54) leading to the U.S. border, and in a state international security experts say is being disputed by drug . The case was also mentioned by President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador during his weekly news conference Friday. Were losing the ability to be shocked.. El Mencho: The drug lord filling the void El Chapo left behind, King Charles' coronation: The schedule, and how to watch the ceremony, Astronomers detect "Scary Barbie" black hole ripping apart huge star, King Charles III's net worth and where his wealth comes from, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Veracruz state. But three years after his landslide win, and with his Morena party in control of Congress, the drumbeat of death continues, suggesting that Mr. Lpez Obradors approach has failed, fueling in many a paralyzing helplessness. Cartel Violence in Central Mexico Taking Hold in Jerez JALISCO CARTEL / 10 MAR 2021 BY MAX RADWIN EN Violence in the town of Jerez, in Mexico's central state of Zacatecas, has surged in 2021, as criminal groups fight for control of key drug transit and production zones. U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Sinaloa state. In October, the neighbouring statesagreed to overhaultheir approach, which Mexican officials have long portrayed as a relic of the past, and to instead step up efforts to address the root causes of crime and curb cross-border arms smuggling. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with. In the past few weeks, there have been several mass killings in the municipalities of Fresnillo . Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. Oaxaca state Exercise Increased Caution. Last Updated: Reissued with updates to health information. Theres not a clear security policy.. It seemed that a woman with her children wanted me kicked out of the restaurant but management refused. Baja California Sur state Exercise Increased Caution. The first shootings began at around 1 a.m., and increased in intensity an hour later, as the shootings spread to various points in the downtown area. Tabasco state Exercise Increased Caution. Zacatecas was where thousands of local slaves were forced by the Spanish to toil in the mines. In general, the city is quite safe. In response, the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent in security reinforcements. In many states, police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities. A vicious battle for control of Zacatecas between Mexico's two most powerful drug cartels continues with no clear end in sight. Mr. Lpez Obrador has also doubled down on his support for the armed forces, embracing the militarization that also marked previous administrations. "Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state,"the advisory says. Although the shootings continued for several hours, no members of the National Guard were deployed to contain the armed groups. The . Zacatecas state, in the north-central region, has been plagued . The incident in Zacatecas state took place late Friday into Saturday when heavily armed men, arriving at the bar in two vehicles, burst in and began shooting indiscriminately, a report from the Security Secretariat said. 2022 The Associated Press. There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Guanajuato state, which includes tourist areas in:San Miguel de Allende,Guanajuato City, andsurrounding areas. There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Durango state. Are you on Telegram? Witnesses said people panicked as the club's floor became awash in blood. Were still going to come out north of 30,000 homicides that have been officially counted by any standard this year, said Ernst. It will be virtually impossible to achieve peace without justice and [social] welfare, Amlo said, promising to slash the murder rate from an average of 89 killings per day with his hugs not bullets doctrine. Campeche state Exercise Normal Precautions. Guanajuato state due to crime and kidnapping. So far, police have a partial identification on four of the bodies. This story has been shared 395,864 times. Zacatecas, once dominated by the old Zetas cartel, is being fought over by a dizzying number of cartels. State prosecutors . There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S government employees in Jalisco state which includes tourist areas in:Guadalajara Metropolitan Area,Puerto Vallarta (including neighboring Riviera Nayarit),Chapala, andAjijic. Zacatecas, which has one of the highest per-capita homicide rates in Mexico, is a key transit point for drugs, especially the powerful synthetic painkiller fentanyl, moving north to the U.S. border. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Puebla state. Keep valuables in a hotel safe and keep an eye on your money and documents. Armed groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Funcionario hizo fiesta en el Acuario Mar de Corts, en Mazatln, das antes de ser inaugurado Se tiene previsto que el recinto abra sus puertas oficialmente el prximo 29 de abril y sea el . But the collection of programs and law-enforcement actions never coalesced into a clear public policy, critics said. But Calderns policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn. Now, the city lies desolate after dark. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico State. Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following area with the noted restrictions: U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Guerrero, including to tourist areas inAcapulco,Zihuatanejo, andIxtapa. Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity particularly along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo. Francisco Murillo, the state's chief prosecutor, said seven of the 10 bodies had been autopsied and all died of "asphyxiation by strangulation." See state summaries and advisory levels below for information on your specific travel destination. In 2021 until October, the number of deaths linked to organized crime increased to 1,277 in Zacatecas. Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. Then children in town were kidnapped, disappearing without a trace. Zacatecas has been the scene of bloody turf battles between the Jalisco and Sinaloa drug cartels. Mexicos war on drugs began in late 2006 when the president at the time, Felipe Caldern, ordered thousands of troops onto the streets in response to an explosion of horrific violence in his native state of Michoacn. Preliminary figures from the Mexican government show that there have been an average of 78 murders a day this month in Mexico about three killings an hour. Photo: El Tiempo. There is peace and calm, he said in June. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Chiapas state, which includes tourist areas in:Palenque, San Cristobal de las Casas,andTuxtla Gutierrez. The Mexican Army and the National Guard launched an operation to search for the kidnapped people, who were not identified. Mugging is spread shared in Zacatecas. Another brother, Ricardo, leads the Morena party in the Senate and has said he intends to run for president in 2024. April 27, 2023. Aguascalientes state Exercise Increased Caution. Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico State. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. The surge in violence over a single weekend in Mexico brought a torrent of headlines that are increasingly familiar as powerful gangs battle for control of the country: shootouts, cars set on fire, bodies lying in the street. Of particular concern is the high number of murders in the southern region of the state associated with cartel-related violence. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. The motive, and the identity of the killers, remain unknown. "They came to leave them here bodies, apparently beaten, with wounds," Monreal said. Morelos state due to crime. Now she and her family live in terror. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. Nayarit state Exercise Increased Caution. In 2020 there were more than 1,200 executions in Zacatecas. Taxi is a safe way of getting around. . She can remember sitting on the stoop with neighbors until midnight as a young girl. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Morelos state. . We've received your submission. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state, which include tourist areas in:Chichen Itza,Merida,Uxmal, andValladolid. Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs. A burnt-out truck blocks a highway on Monday after an attempted prison break in Zacatecas state. Fresnillo feels to residents overrun by violence and paralyzed by fear, a testament to the failure of Mexicos government to tackle organized crime. The state of Zacatecas is the home to a violent narco-war between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS). But not even the familys political prominence has managed to rescue the city or the state. In late November, the government announced that 3,848 national guard and army personnel were going to be stationed in Zacatecas to quell the rising violence as part of a federal plan to strengthen the states safety. The issue of violence is terrifying, said Victor Pia, a lifelong resident of Zacatecas state who lives in the city of Fresnillo. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. Please enter valid email address to continue. There were 18 dead, and the confrontation occurred in the community of San Juan Capistrano, in the municipality of Valparaiso, said Zacatecas state security department spokeswoman Roco Aguilar. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. InSight Crime Analysis This wave of police killings can best be understood in light of the ongoing turf war ravaging Zacatecas and the state's inability to protect its forces. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. Additionally, U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter. Employees traveling to Manzanillo from Guadalajara must use Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours. The federal Public Safety Department said a man drove the truck onto the plaza, then exited the vehicle and walked away down an alley. More violence this week forced schools and universities to cancel classes in Zacatecas state. Use additional caution in areas outside of the frequented tourist areas, although petty crime occurs frequently in tourist areas as well. . 4124. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Queretaro state. Living with fear is no life at all.. Bordering eight other states, Zacatecas has long been central to the drug trade, a crossroads between the Pacific, where narcotics and drugmaking products are shipped in, and northern states along the United States border. my family often travels to zacatecas yearly, we go to a more smaller town but do go to zacatecas. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. The news came almost as fast as the bullets were fired: a judge murdered in cold blood; cartel members attempting a prison break; five people killed at a bar in a popular port city. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Campeche state. Additionally, a 20-year-old woman from Zacatecas has been positively identified by her family members as one of the victims. As a consequence, the ministry of Defense . The Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels have been battling for control in the largely rural state through alliances with local gangs. The fear has overwhelmed us., Were Living in Hell: Inside Mexicos Most Terrified City, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/world/americas/inside-mexicos-most-terrified-city-fresnillo.html. Zacatecas Gov. 5 Feb 2022. Children exercising as part of a local crime-prevention program. But for now, she sits in her parents small, cinder-block house, the curtains drawn, the shadows broken by the candles of a little altar to Henry and his fallen friends. Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Roco Muoz-Ledo (CNN Espaol) Una agresin contra la Polica Estatal Preventiva del estado mexicano de Zacatecas dej este mircoles cinco presuntos agresores muertos, inform en un . Guadalupe has thought about leaving town or even taking her own life. Zacatecas isn't the safest city in Mexico. In the latest incident, authorities said, three bodies were hung from a bridge in the province and three others from a tree. "What we received was a cursed inheritance" from previous administrations, Monreal said. Guadalupes oldest son was murdered in Fresnillo last month. In the last year alone, homicides have increased by more than 60%. He would break with the failed tactics of his predecessors, he said. There was evidence the deaths in the remote township of Valparaiso resulted from a confrontation between gunmen from the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, she said. Criminal activity and violence occur throughout the state. From the United States 1-844-528-6611. An initial autopsy performed on seven of the 10 bodies showed that they ranged in age from 18 to 45, and that the cause of death was asphyxia caused by strangulation. In November of last year, Lpez Obrador visited Zacatecas, in a show of support to Monreal vila, and promised the governor that he would deploy a large contingent of federal armed forces to the state. Four Colombians from the same family died last Sunday, April 23rd while traveling on a highway in Zacatecas, Mexico. In Fresnillo, the National Guard hasnt done enough, according to the citys mayor, Sal Monreal, a member of the presidents Morena party. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Everyday there are groups of people from all over the world that come here to relax and see this beautiful city. Between the weekend and today, 12 civilians were shot dead; two state police officers gunned down on public roads; two armed confrontations between gunmen belonging to antagonistic organized crime groups in the municipalities of Jerez and Fresnillo; the . Thanks. The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered in Zacatecas state after apparent confrontation between suspected cartels. Three vehicles, one of them burned-out, were found at the scene, as well as a significant number of casings of different calibres, according to the governments Local Coordination Group, in charge of security in Zacatecas. Shooting incidents between criminal groupshave injured or killed bystanders. The next day, driving out of town, Pia saw the aftermath: burned carcasses of trucks set on fire as roadblocks, which, according to the state security secretary, Adolfo Marn Marn, had been set up to draw attention away from the attempted prison break. Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of crime and kidnapping. Criminal organizations are based in and operating in Sinaloa. The grisly discovery comes after nine bodies were hung from an overpass last week in the central Mexican state of Zacatecas. Anyone can read what you share. U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Chihuahua, includingCopper Canyon. The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered after an apparent gun battle between suspected drug cartels in Zacatecas state in northern Mexico, authorities said on Friday. Late last year, grim incidents multiplied in the northern state with bodies found hanging in public places. Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping. Queretaro state Exercise Increased Caution. Her 10-year-old daughter can barely sleep, she said, and Guadalupe keeps dreaming of her sons killing. David Monreal vila said in a video posted on his official Twitter account Thursday that the people thought to be responsible had been arrested, but declined to give further details because the investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement capacity is greater in the tri-city area of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira, which has a lower rate of violent criminal activity compared to the rest of the state.
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