Two tourists kidnapped in Cancun's hotel zone One has been found Crespo and Valdez promised their victims safe passage across the Yucatan Straits and then overland across Mexico, according to court documents. This story has been shared 114,982 times. 7.8 (1,562) Rate. Arrested in an upscale Guadalajara neighborhood on Monday, Gonzalez Valencia is charged with laundering money for the cartel. I am getting better. Exclusive: Three migrants were kidnapped in Mexico. The U.S - Reuters "It's a shame for people to only focus on the aspect of crime and violence that take place.". Last week, the State Department issued an alert to U.S. citizens when reports of "multiple vehicle fires, roadblocks, and heavy police activity" surfaced in Tijuana and the surrounding area. Is Cancun Safe for American Tourists in 2023? - Passports and Grub Violent drug . Cancun and other Mexican vacation cities remain top destinations for U.S. travelers despite several safety warnings in 2017 and early 2018. Kidnappings fell briefly thereafter, dipping to 1,069 in 2015, but they are starting to climb again. MRIDA, Yucatn, (October 15, 2021).- The civil associationAlto al Secuestroannounced thatYucatnis among the 8 states of the Republic that reportzero kidnappings, the other states are Campeche, Chiapas, Tlaxcala, Aguascalientes, Nayarit, Durango and Coahuila. We arent the police, the voice on the other side responded. Mexico kidnap: The inside story. Is Merida Safe for Foreign Travelers and Expats? Mexico is one of the world's great travel destinations and millions of visitors travel safely here each year. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Last night there was an alleged attempt to kidnap a young woman in the streets of the Juan Pablo II subdivision, but two neighbors intervened and prevented the kidnapping. Furthermore, if possible travel in at least groups of 2 or more and when using the ATM one individual acts as a buffer/distance mechanism for any who may be attempting to observe or approach. I feel extremely safe here, said a Dutch expatriate, who just closed on a home in the area. The high-profile kidnapping in 1994 of Alfredo Harp Hel, a Mexican entrepreneur whose family paid $30 million for his release, typifies this trend. Instead, they were nabbed en route by armed gunmen, making them just two of the thousands of Mexicans rich and poor, young and old kidnapped each year. Thats all gone now. While five Mexican states including Michoacan and Sinaloa are listed as places not recommended for travel, the advisory for Veracruz has no restrictions. With El Chapo sentenced to life imprisonment at a maximum-security prison in Colorado, the group is now run by Ismael El Mayo Zambada Garcia, 73. The authorities are colluding with the kidnappers, she said. We were held in a house that was practically a torture chamber., He added: I have met a lot of cartel people with my work I havent met anyone as particularly cruel as these men. Call Davids mom! The government has gotten really serious about cracking down on crime.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The message threatened death to merchants who refuse to fork over bribes to the drug-trafficking gangs and was signed by Los Pelones the bald ones.. None of the killings occurred . Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico. Despite the opening of specialized prosecutors offices, the government has not yet been able to curb the cruelty of themurders, uprisings, and extortion. According to the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice AC, the rearrangement and the dispute of the cartels by the areas of the state, brought the municipality of Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, to first place in the list of the most violent sites in Mexico. These are the cartels that capture, extort and torture migrants in 8 Cartel members last year tried to assassinate Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico Citys chief of police, in an attack that wounded him and left three people dead, including two of his bodyguards. We are going to check them. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Market data provided by Factset. Mexican cities remain top tourist destinations. In addition to the 10 outfits fighting to control drug sales in the plazas or drug marketplaces of Tulum, there are two other gangs in Cancun fighting for dominance of the Riviera Maya, according to Oscar Montes de Oca, the lead prosecutor in the state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Tulum are located. Is this the police? Deborah asked. 50+ Best Things to Do in Merida Mexico in 2023 [w/ Map] - Travel To Merida On Monday in a press briefing,Department spokesperson Ned Price said there were no reports to share on U.S. citizens being injured or killed in the incident. I am a single woman and Ive never had a problem, and Tulum is packed right now.. AN updated Mexico Danger Map prompted US government officials to warn travelers about "widespread" crime, as murders, kidnappings, carjackings and robberies continue to rise. Her burned-out bullet-ridden SUV was reportedly found . Fifty-one of the kidnappings in Veracruz happened in the month January, Alto al Secuestro reported. Mexico danger map updated as US warns of 'widespread - The Sun In the last few months, a Senior Police Officer and a Taxi driver were both murdered by drug cartels. Christopher Burgess is a writer, speaker and commentator on global security issues. One kidnapper cut off a victims finger when family members couldnt raise funds to release him, court documents say. They dont lose any sleep over who they shoot. The kidnappers told the Massabkis to start thinking of people to call in the U.S. for a ransom. Jennifer and Frank Massabki are telling their story to caution other Americans heading to the country. That is about the same as Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Re: Cartels and kidnapping in PV. The Massabkis believe they were able to escape in part because they are both fluent in Spanish and could understand what the kidnappers were saying. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Reynaldo Marquez Crespo, 41, and Jancer Sergio Ramos Valdes, 33, both Cuban, face 35 years in prison on charges of alien smuggling and kidnapping. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Yucatan Times' content is protected by intellectual property rights, its re-publication, distribution, or retransmission is prohibited without the company's prior authorization. See all contact information. What were seeing is a huge increase in street fighting from the plaza bosses, Texas-based security consultant Robert Almonte, an expert on Mexican cartels, told The Post. Two men who were also there with them were killed and the women were sexually assaulted, he said. The woman known as La Jefa the chief was Jaliscos main accountant, part of a subgroup known as Los Cuinis, Almonte said. That has put me in the crosshairs of governments, gangs, and cartels., MEXICAN MAYOR GUNNED DOWN DURING HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE. Mexico has been a popular travel destination for American tourists throughout the pandemic because restrictions . A police cordon marks the perimeter of the site where a forensic team and judicial authorities work in unmarked graves where skulls were found, on the outskirts of Veracruz, Mexico March 16, 2017. According to the U.S. Department of State, 66 of these were U.S. citizens, 14 of these cases involved Legal Permanent Residents. Tulum will keep growing because the Mexican government is really investing in tourism here, said Susann Rottloff, a Tulum-based realtor and German expatriate who has lived in Tulum for the last three years. Mexico International Parental Child Abduction Information Its also become the most feared of the Mexican drug gangs. (Reuters). Am I crazy? After my mother died, my cousin took her designer purse, and my aunt took 8 paintings from her home then things really escalated, What's next for bonds in 2023 after the worst year in history. Jose was taken by kidnappers in central Mexico over a year ago. More than 140,000 descend on the region every week, according to Mexican government statistics, with many wanting to invest in property for the long term, Rottloff told The Post this week. The updated Travel Advisory includes new information on the Coahuila, Mexico, Nayarit, and Zacatecas states. The 2019 study details that the bloody incidents have created a negative image of the tourist gem, which has a . Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. The number of tourists from the US to Mexico in 2017 numbered 35.5 million. Similarly, it was announced that in February the number of detainees for this crime increased, with 120 people, while in January there were 35 alleged perpetrators of kidnapping. or redistributed. Crespo and Valdez [] Where You're Most Likely to Get Kidnapped in Mexico Between January and March 2018, almost 400 people were kidnapped. There is a lot of suffering going on. Is Merida Mexico safe? Viewpoints on Women in the Revolution - Library of Congress Other places in the world are far more violent., But for Almonte, who organizes seminars for US law enforcement on Mexican cartels, things are out of control and the Mexican government does not have a handle on it, he said. Local reports claim there have been 366 murders over the past 80 days in the Gulf state of Veracruz more than 4.5 murders each day. Cartel expert tells tourists, 'Don't go' to Mexico right now May 2, 2021. One hundred and thirty Yucatecans were attacked by snakes in 2022, Discrimination is the main cause of the decrease in the number of Mayan speakers, Mexico will send 84 athletes to the 2023 Youth Para-Panamerican Games, Cholera, number one enemy during the hot season, Oceanfront Evenings announced in Progreso, A vehicle catches fire in Conkal, Yucatn, Metropolitan Circuit joins the Va y Ven Route; it will be free of charge from March 4 -19, A man was found dead in a soccer field in Mrida, Man brutally beaten for running a stop sign in Kanasn, Rainless weekend and intense heat for the Yucatan. Only "1 percent of all kidnappers are captured and carried to justice," said Torres Landa, the Mexico United Against Organized Crime consultant. [1/8] Migrants who recently crossed the border and were caught walk back to Mexico after being dropped off by border patrol agents in Laredo, Texas, U.S. June 15, 2022.Picture taken June 15, 2022 . 1:53. Source: infobae.com, seguridadjusticiaypaz.org.mx, Spring is coming and with it 17 tourist cruises will arrive, Watch out! Its a costly part of the drug trade, financially as well as in lives lost. Travel.State.Gov CSI Save. With Mexicos kidnapping problem only getting worse, more and more families are experiencing the pain of seeing a loved one disappear and facing up to the grim reality that they may never come home. But the per capita rate is highest in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, near the U.S. border. With Spring Break travel around the corner, U.S. residents are being urged by the state department to avoid travel to Mexico, with all but two of the country's 32 states under an elevated warning . Mexico is a wonderful country, and one that is high on our list of vacation destinations. To get toPlayas de Rosarito, most tourists travel by car on roads with stunning views of the turquoise ocean and steep cliffs. Attempted kidnapping of a young woman in Merida thwarted, CDC: Cruise Ships May Begin Outside the US Starting in July. He has lived and traveled abroad for more than 55 years. Getty Images. Tenancingo, Mexico, widely considered the sex trafficking capital of the world, is the single largest source of sex slaves sent to the US, according to the US State Department. Cartels and kidnapping in PV - Puerto Vallarta Forum The municipality with the most kidnappings is in Benito Jurez, Quintana Roo, The best jeans in Mexico? And the problems getting worse. Both men face charges of conspiring to induce aliens to come to the United States and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. U.S. authorities captured Crespo in Texas while Valdes was arrested in Connecticut, where a federal magistrate judge ordered that he be held without bail pending trial. Si quieres verlo a detalle, entra en el siguiente link: https://t.co/RmB00H0C2F pic.twitter.com/gZ1Zngbesq, NATIONAL REPORT FOR 2018 TO 2021 CLICK HERE, NATIONAL COMPARATIVE REPORT 2020 TO 2021 CLICK HERE, STATE REPORT MAP 2018 AGOSTO 2021 CLICK HERE, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Find out what states in Mexico have the worst kidnapping problem, Tlaxcala festivity mocks European colonizers, USD-Mexico Peso Exchange rate today March 1st, 2023. Two human rights organizations, the Association . So among stories of drug cartels, kidnappings, and more, it might get you wonderingis Merida, Mexico safe? In the images you could see the man with his hands tied and blindfolded. Get me his father, the voice demanded. Is Mexico Safe? What Expats Need To Know Before Moving To Mexico Forget about the Traffic Light entering Mexico. In 2017 the FBI investigated 116 kidnappings in Mexico. The decapitated body of Mexican businesswoman Susana Carrera was found last week after her family was unable to pay kidnappers the ransom they demanded. In our piece, How to manager you Mexico vacation and not get shot I tell the story of a taxi ride in Puerto Vallarta where the driver of the cab makes a call to an unidentified individual and speaks of how the cab with the older white haired male and redheaded female will arrive in about 20 mins. The civil association Stop Kidnapping revealed that the number of victims associated with kidnapping decreased in February on Mexicowith a ratio of 7.9 percent, 131 victims were reported during the month.. The 63-year-old entrepreneur, who did not want to be identified by name, said he has been vacationing in Tulum for more than 10 years, and bought his first condo in the seaside resort town overlooking the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea two and a half years ago. Scores are obtained through a methodology that includes crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, willful injury, and extortion. People keep asking me if Tulum is safe. Among those kidnapped was American photographer John Sevigny, who was in the city of Cordoba in the state of Veracruz. Kidnappings reached their highest levels ever in Mexico last year, with 1,698 kidnappings in 2013, according to the Mexican government. A Florida couple was kidnapped in Mexico City in May of 2017 while scouting wedding locations. After hours of being held hostage, several violent altercations, and a failed attempted rape, the two were able to free themselves. Its a trend that experts refer to as the democratization of kidnapping. This crime is also not exclusive to Mexico, as the risk is widespread across Latin America. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Mennonites in Mexico - Wikipedia Was it to arrange a kidnapping or a timeshare sales pitch, well never know, nor did we wish to find out. Mexican drug-trafficking organizations have been engaged in brutal fights against . The report presented on Monday warned thatSalamanca and Tecomncomplete the list of the top five violent cities. From about 2007 to 2016, the number of criminal groups in Mexico rocketed from six to 400, according to Mexico United Against Organized Crime. [The authorities] say they dont have enough information, Davids sister, Lourdes, said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. USA TODAY. Im asked a lot about travel to Mexico, and my recommendation is dont go.. The Yucatan peninsula was close to the U.S., which it had tried to join on three separate occasions. He is a former Senior Security Advisor to Cisco and served 30+ years within the CIA which awarded him the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal upon his retirement. The principal motives for kidnapping are to subject the victim to some form of involuntary servitude, to expose him to the commission of some further criminal act against his person, or to . 8 bodies found in Cancun, Mexico, prompting travel warning - USA TODAY They are putting David in a vehicle, the message said. The U.S. State Department rates areas in terms of safety on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the least safe. Worry about Kidnappings? - Cancun Forum - Tripadvisor And then there is the Sinaloa Cartel. The government itself is completely incapable of dealing with the problem., MEXICAN POLICE FIND 20 BODIES, MOST BURNED, CLOSE TO US BORDER. All rights reserved. Number of kidnapping cases in Mexico 2021 | Statista Rosarito, Mananillo, and Tijuana beacheswere the most violent municipalities during 2019, according to the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice. the boardwalk will close for triathlon, take your precautions, These are the challenges that Mazatln has in the face with the real estate boom, Despite stalled legalization, Marijuana producers in Sinaloa are still making plans for a legal global market, The most dangerous municipality in Mexico, Murders, kidnappings, and Extortion, American citizen sentenced to 21 years in prison for drug trafficking in North Carolina, Lopez Obrador wants narco-linked witness to testify against Calderon and Fox, The National Civic Front in Mazatln call for a protest against Plan B of the Electoral Reform in Mazatlan, More than 3 tons of garbage removed from the beaches during Carnival, The expansion of Santa Rosa Avenue is coming. The attackers put a hood over her husbands head while they threatened them both. Tourists continue to flock to Mexico each year, even throughout the COVID pandemic. The couple believed they were able to escape because both spoke fluent Spanish and were physically fit. Veracruz has been the witness of a bloody rivalry between drug cartels in recent years as well as impunity and government corruption that has led to an explosive cocktail of violence and uncertainty in the state, Al Jazeera reported last year. Is Mexico Safe? The Main Risks & How To Avoid Them - Indiana Jo FAA NOTAMS system failure causes nationwide aviation ground stop, Mexico: Sinaloa erupts in violence following the arrest of El Raton Ovidio Guzman, Hawaii Kilauea Volcano welcomes 2023 with a new eruption, Dry Tortugas National Park temporarily closed, How to manager you Mexico vacation and not get shot, Jamaica Tourist gunned down in St. James Parish. This is the reason why Mazatln stopped being the Capital of Sinaloa, Rescuing tradition! Kidnappings in Mexico come in three forms. When Jennifer and Frank Massabki traveled to Mexico in May 2017, they had recently gotten engaged and were looking for potential locations to host their wedding later that year. Verdin taunts the DEA agents torturing him. The embassy notes, that in some cases ransom is paid and the victim freed, in other cases the victim is killed despite a ransom being paid. But Im not sure, he wrote. The NGO detailed that, from December 2018 to September 2021, 5 thousand 234 victims of kidnapping have been registered, . In fact, we were hardly bothered by anyone whose attention we did not want. The kidnapping surge in Mexico is fueled in large part by the insatiable US demand for drugs. In 2019, that amounted to more than $25 billion generated from 45 million tourists, according to Mexicos National Tourism Business Council. The U.S. State Department issued an updated Travel Advisory Wednesday for U.S. travelers visiting Mexico, including new state-level advice and information on "kidnapping . Make informed decisions that reduce your risk of being kidnapped. Google Pay. Lamentablemente en #BajaCalifornia la incidencia del delito de #Secuestro aument 350% en los primeros 8 meses del ao, lo que coloca a la entidad en el primer lugar con mayor incremento registrado. I heard the kidnappers talking about working with local authorities about kidnapping people.. In September, the State Department tripled the reward for information leading to his capture from $5 million to $15 million. Kidnapping | Definition, Types, & Examples | Britannica The agency cited an "increased risk of crime and kidnapping" in certain areas of Mexico. I have to say I have traveled in Guerrero, precisely in Taxco, one of the beautiful Mexican Pueblos Magicos (magic towns) at about 2-hour bus from Mexico City. If convicted, they could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for kidnapping and a maximum of 15 years for human smuggling, according to media reports. Meanwhile, a nonprofit organization revealed Tuesday that there have been 69 reported kidnapping cases over the same period. Desperate to get their sons back, the Ramirez and Rivera families made a payment to the kidnappers. Most of the detainees do not exceed 23 years. Things have become so dangerous that on Wednesday, Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced the creation of a tourist battalion 1,500 National Guard soldiers wielding automatic weapons to keep visitors safe. Kidnappings for ransom accounted for 81 of the investigations, 10 cases had no ransom demands, and 25 cases were virtual kidnappings. As one who has visited numerous times and lived there for a few years, I find Mexico, its people, and culture inviting, interesting and a joy to be around. We can't provide you with security and protection. Grisly kidnapping and murder of family in Mexico City sends shockwaves 0:00. Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The month of August of this year registered a decrease of 5.7 percent in the crime of kidnapping compared to the same period of 2019, as reported by Stop Kidnapping. In 2016, there were 771 kidnapping cases in the country involving people connected to the U.S., according to the OSAC, including citizens, legal permanent residents and other cases in which an extortion call was made to the U.S. and police (or former law enforcement officials) have been implicated in many of these incidents. Yucatn Magazine is a resource for curious readers looking for news, information and inspiration about living in Mexico. Mexican government figures from last month showed that homicide cases in Mexico rose by 15 percent in 2018 with 28,816 investigations opened last year, compared to 25,036 the previous year. Is it safe for Americans to vacation to Cancun? - New York Post You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! But . According to a message from the victim on social media, the events occurredon 32nd avenue, near the Nuestra Seora del Rosario church. After the 'Colado' was kidnapped, his alleged captors sent photographs to the man's family to ask for a ransom of about 10 million pesos. If money was paid, the victims were sent on a bus to the U.S. border and instructed to ask for asylum, according to prosecutors. In the wake of the shocking Cancun shooting, some Americans may be wondering if it's safe to visit the area. (Photo: Pixabay), All Rights Reserved The Yucatan Times 2020. The Mexican government has been largely unsuccessful in their efforts to reduce kidnapping, and a large part of this failure can be attributed to high levels of official corruption. The State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Mexico, which means . In Monterrey Mexico a gemologist was kidnapped in 2014 while on a fishing trip. Between 2000 and 2006, there were about 400 kidnappings a year, which, while still a lot, pales in comparison to current numbers. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has listed a $10 million bounty for El Menchos capture. According to the advisory, "U.S.citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel." They had to find other sources of income, which gave the hitmen in these groups carte blanche to participate in activities like kidnapping and extortion, he said. Governments around the world (United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia) identify kidnapping as a concern for visitors to Mexico. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. MRIDA YUCATAN.- Last night there was analleged attempt to kidnap a young womanin the streets of theJuan Pablo II subdivision, but two neighbors intervened and prevented the kidnapping. Zero kidnappings in Yucatan. Telling them that their missing companion may have . Each of these cases may have involved more than one victim, so the total number of homicides is likely to be higher. Mazatln Carnival: How much was spent and recovered? 8. Another victim, who had medical issues and wore a colostomy bag, was stripped naked, tied up and stunned with a Taser, the Miami Herald reported. In 2017 the FBI investigated 116 kidnappings in Mexico. According to the National Index of Violence, Playas de Rosarito (Baja California) obtained 104 points;Manzanillo (Colima) 87;Tijuana (Baja California) 86;Salamanca (Guanajuato) 82 and Tecomn (Colima) 69 points. Unfortunately, in other latitudes of the country, the victims and investigation files for the crime of kidnapping have increased significantly. The2019studydetails that the bloody incidents have created a negative image of the tourist gem, which has a population of more than 70,000 people. There is a huge incentive to participate in these activities.. The death of a Mexican businesswoman snatched by sicarios while picking up her child at a friends home and whose body was found decapitated inside a black bag rattled heightened fears in the state of Veracruz that has been plagued by growing violence. 11 March 2016. The gang has been a longtime enforcer of the Gulf Cartel, whose battle against their archrivals the ferocious Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel has recently resulted in shocking gangland-style violence along the Riviera Maya, a sun-drenched stretch of beaches on the Yucatan Peninsula that is Mexicos biggest tourist hub. He said on Ciro por la maana that the rise in homicides and kidnappings over the past 80 days has shown that cartels and criminals are changing their tactics. That mainly comes down to it being a big city. No. The only U.S. cities that rank higher than Merida are Irvine, California, and Amarillo, Texas. Without jinxing anything, what we want to make clear is that Merida is a very safe place to be. Help me! Bounty hunter in Mexican jail for 'kidnapping' fugitive heir