Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos state. Then the bodies of the executed were dumped in city streets. . These include high-traffic tourism areas of border and coastal communities, such asTijuana,Ensenada, andRosarito. The state has taken some steps to address this crisis, but it can do much more. Zacatecas has become a focus for Amlos 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 tackle organized crime in the state. This weekend, there were these very unfortunate events: the loss of life, the murder of a judge, the president said during his morning news conference, before blaming the violence on the inaction of previous governments. 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. 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 . 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. There were many steps to climb so you do need a certain level of fitness. Local media have reported a series of shootings since Wednesday when the bodies of two police officers were found hanging from a bridge in Zacatecas. Bodies hanging from Mexico overpasses: Powerful drug cartels are back Last week Mr. Lpez Obrador announced that the guard would receive an additional $2.5 billion in funding. The U.S. Department of State recommends to visitors stay in defined tourist areas because those are considered safest, however its always important to stay vigilant about your surroundings and personal belongings. The risk of cheating with credit cards in Zacatecas is high. The bodies of 16 people were found in two different cities in Mexico's Zacatecas state on Saturday amid a turf war between two powerful drug cartels. Funcionario hizo fiesta en el Acuario Mar de Corts, en Mazatln, das U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. So far, police have a partial identification on four of the bodies. The department said federal agencies were sending reinforcements to Zacatecas to help in the investigation. Violent crime is widespread. Also, travelers can be cheated with tour tickets. Yes, terrorism, not an issue here, but all of many other crimes as robbery, hijacking, and violence are common here. Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter. Anyone can read what you share. Six people died on the spot and two more succumbed while receiving medical attention; five people remained hospitalized on Sunday for gunshot wounds. Cartel war in Zacatecas leaves death, destruction and fear among the It is beautiful City and much less chance being pick-pocketed in San Francisco,CA than here. Battles for territory between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens and U.S. government employees, including restaurants and malls during daylight hours. 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. Zacatecas Chief Prosecutor Francisco Murillo said seven of the bodies had been autopsied and all died of asphyxiation by strangulation.. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Its a force that comes out of trying to mix oil and water, said Eduardo Guerrero, a Mexico City security analyst. 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. my family often travels to zacatecas yearly, we go to a more smaller town but do go to zacatecas. Zacatecas, once dominated by the old Zetas cartel, is being fought over by a dizzying number of cartels. There is an unstoppable situation of violence and a tragic deterioration of public security in Mexico, said Angelica Duran-Martinez, an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands. You can see here real people living real lives. Fresnillo, which sits in the center of important roads and highways, is strategically vital. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on travel to Mexico. Check the authorized source for the latest updates before your visit to the city. Taxi is a safe way of getting around. As Mexicos military went on the offensive, the body count sky-rocketed to new heights and tens of thousands were forced from their homes, disappeared or killed. FRESNILLO, Mexico The violence was already terrifying, she said, when grenades exploded outside her church in broad daylight some five years ago. A city of beautiful cathedrals and art museums a lot of beautiful art! Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. Francisco Murillo, the state's chief prosecutor, said seven of the 10 bodies had been autopsied and all died of "asphyxiation by strangulation." Local authorities said 10 of the bodies were discovered in Fresnillo, while the other six were found in General Panfilo Natera, 110km (70 miles) to the southeast. 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. We had no problem in terms of crime. Simultaneously Caldern also began pursuing the so-calledkingpin strategyby which authorities sought to decapitate the cartels by targeting their leaders. State Officials Targeted as CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel Clash in Zacatecas, Mexico In the past few weeks, there have been several mass killings in the municipalities of Fresnillo . Were losing the ability to be shocked.. Mexican Authorities Identify Bodies of Missing Ohio Man's Fiancee and But for much of its recent history, residents say they were largely left alone. Gang violence, often associated with the theft of petroleum and natural gas from the state oil company and other suppliers, occurs in Guanajuato, primarily in the south and central areas of the state. Tabasco state Exercise Increased Caution. MXICO DF - Ms de 150 escritores y artistas conocidos internacionalmente firmaron una peticin para pedirle al presidente mexicano Felipe Caldern cancelar las concesiones . Thirty-seven (37) attractions and sixteen (16) museums not bad for a place I had never heard of, I had no idea. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reconsider Travel To: Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping. The . Employees traveling to Manzanillo from Guadalajara must use Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Petty crime occurs frequently in both tourist and non-tourist areas. The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered in Zacatecas state after apparent confrontation between suspected cartels. Violent crime is widespread. In the last few years, the region has become embroiled in a battle between two of the countrys most powerful organized crime groups: the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. That policy resulted in some high-profile scalps notably Arturo Beltrn Leyva who wasgunned down by Mexican marines in 2009 but also did little to bring peace. Across Mexico, more than 300,000 people have been killed in a wave of bloodshed since the government deployed the army to fight drug cartels in 2006. In January of this year, the bodies of 10 murdered people were found in front Monreals vilas office, stuffed inside a flatbed pickup truck in the main plaza of the state capital. Yes, terrorism, not an issue here, but all of many other crimes as robbery, hijacking, and violence are common here. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. InSight Crime Analysis 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Use additional caution in areas outside of the frequented tourist areas, although petty crime occurs frequently in tourist areas as well. Morelos state due to crime. Lpez Obrador, or Amlo as most call him, vowed to attack the social roots of crime,offering vocational trainingto more than 2.3 million disadvantaged young people at risk of being ensnared by the cartels. However, as elsewhere in Mexico, you must stay updated on the news on this subject. Zacatecas is a battle ground for the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacin - CJNG) and smaller groups with whom each have . Are you on Telegram? Lately, it has become a national horror show, with cadavers found dangling from bridges, stuffed into plastic bags or even tied to a cross. Bodies of 5 men and 1 woman found dumped on road in Mexico amid bloody increasingly relied on the armed forces to tackle the violence. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Hidalgo state. San Luis Potosi state Exercise Increased Caution. But the very next day, the carnage continued. Mugging is spread shared in Zacatecas. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. The index of crime is quite high for the city. There are no other travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Baja California state. That's 342 more than were murdered over the same time frame last year, authorities said. Quintana Roo state Exercise Increased Caution. It fills me with rage, with indignation.. Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime, Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. A burnt-out truck blocks a highway on Monday after an attempted prison break in Zacatecas state. Nuevo Leon state Exercise Increased Caution. But more than a year later, with violence again overwhelming the state, the limits of the presidents strategy has been laid bare, according to analysts. Of course like any other city there is crime, but there are many, many tourists here. Hugs not bullets doesnt work, said Javier Torres Rodrguez, whose brother was shot and killed in 2018. Mexico - Wikipedia "They came to leave them here bodies, apparently beaten, with wounds," Monreal said. The CDC's latest guidance on international travel for vaccinated people can be foundhere. Zacatecas is the colonial city and that the real Mexico begins to emerge. And as the strategy of militarization fails, residents like Pia are left to deal with unending violence. Caught in the middle of the fighting are residents like Guadalupe. When was the last time you came for a visit? Zacatecas, which has one of the highest per-capita homicide rates in Mexico, is a key transit point for drugs moving north to the U.S. border, especially the powerful synthetic painkiller. Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. in terms of going there we have no issues. It seemed that a woman with her children wanted me kicked out of the restaurant but management refused. Just recently, on June 8, two bags with human remains were found in the metropolitan municipality of Guadalupe, also in Zacatecas. Then children in town were kidnapped, disappearing without a trace. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Only one of them showed signs that could be consistent with acts of torture, which would need to be corroborated by a full autopsy, said the states attorney general, Francisco Jos Murillo Ruiseco, in a video posted on Facebook. The case was also mentioned by President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador during his weekly news conference Friday. Oaxaca state Exercise Increased Caution. At least 948 people have been killed in Zacatecas over the first 10 months of this year. Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Make sure you buy tickets on tours in a licensed place and be watchful. All Rights Reserved. Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico State. But be sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip. "I Don't Want to Disappear": How Mexico's Criminal Violence Reshapes Among other strategies, Mr. Lpez Obrador has focused on tackling what he sees as the root causes of violence, funding social programs to improve education and employment for young people. Travelers should "exercise increased caution when traveling to" Coahuila, Mexico and . Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos. Cartel violence erupts: Dozens of bodies found dumped in northern Federal and state security forces attended the crime scene and cordoned off the area. 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. It was Guadalupe who found the teenagers bodies. Mexico State (Estado de Mexico) Exercise Increased Caution. The search for the disappeared points to Mexicos darkest secrets, The sniper rifles flowing to Mexican cartels show a decade of U.S. failure, With its leader in jail, this city cowered to his will, Violent criminal groups are eroding Mexicos authority and claiming more territory, As Mexicos security deteriorates, the power of the military grows, Essential reporting from around the world, Bodies of 10 people, beaten and murdered, dumped in front of governors office in Zacatecas, Mexico. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities. . The state of Zacatecas is the home to a violent narco-war between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS). We've received your submission. Yucatan state Exercise Normal Precautions. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S government employees in Nayarit state, including tourist areas in: U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Zacatecas state. Violent day in Zacatecas leaves 14 murders and 11 kidnappings Fresnillo feels to residents overrun by violence and paralyzed by fear, a testament to the failure of Mexicos government to tackle organized crime. The incidents are part of a deadly uptick in violence in recent months as cartels fight for control of drug trafficking in the region. 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. Violent day in Zacatecas leaves 14 murders and 11 kidnappings. April 13, 2022 / 6:30 AM / CBS/AP. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Baja California Sur state, which includes tourist areas in:Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo,andLa Paz. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. How Safe Is Zacatecas for Travel? - Travel Safe - Abroad When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. He said the crime was the result of fighting between gangs, and that the way the bodies were left was a provocation. He said that since a special safety operation was initiated in Zacatecas 43 days ago, there has been a 25 percent decrease in murders. 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. Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations. In January this year, an SUV with 10 dead bodies was dumped in front of the offices of the state governor, David Monreal vila, in the state capital, also called Zacatecas. Elderly Inland Empire Man Beaten To Death In Tijuana: Report He would break with the failed tactics of his predecessors, he said. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide . Keep valuables in a hotel safe and keep an eye on your money and documents. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Travel on Highway 5 is permissible during daylight hours. It is very conservative and I believe I got in trouble for being sleeveless (it was hard to say as I dont understand Spanish). The Mexican Army is deployed in Zacatecas, Mexico, amid escalating violence. Mexico (Spanish: Mxico), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America.It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Of particular concern is the high number of homicides in the non-tourist areas of Tijuana. Zacatecas state, in the north-central region, has been plagued . Some of the victims showed signs of being tied by their hands and feet. The death, on Saturday, September 19th, of the director of the Juan Aldama headquarters, Zacatecas , at the hands of an armed group was just the beginning of the attack that continued across the state.. Barrn Guzmn was shot at 08:30 AM, on September 19, by alleged hitmen of the . With more than 26,000 murders this year, it is clear the presidents strategy of using the military to control the crime gangs has failed. Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. U.S. government employee travel is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions: U.S. government employees may only travel from Ciudad Juarez to Chihuahua City during daylight hours via Federal Highway 45, with stops permitted only at the Federal Police station, the Umbral del Mileniooverlook area, the border inspection station at KM 35, and the shops and restaurants on Federal Highway 45 in the town of Villa Ahumada. 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 . While most gang-related violence is targeted, violence perpetrated by criminal organizations can affect bystanders. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. 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. U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Chihuahua, includingCopper Canyon. Shooting incidents between criminal groupshave injured or killed bystanders. 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. U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions: There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Coahuila state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments. In Fresnillo, 96 percent of residents say they feel unsafe the highest percentage of any city in Mexico. Eighteen bodies found after suspected drug cartel shootout in northern Mexico Travel Advisory - United States Department of State