There is no suggestion that the man in this picture has committed a crime, The Mexican officers are prepped for impromptu gun battles while on patrol, Half-a-million Brits flock to Mexicos Caribbean coastline every year - despite the high crime rate, A Mexican cop carrying an automatic rifle while on patrol, The murder rate in Mexico's Caribbean coastline has exploded in recent years, Cancun's plush resorts and sunny weather attracts thousands of British tourists every year, The sight of armed police is common on the streets of Cancun, The government has now taken charge of all 11 police forces in Quintana Roo, Officers in the resort town wear bullet-proof jackets while patrolling the tourist-packed beaches, A lifeguard was shot in the leg near the Grand Bahia Principe Resort in Tulum earlier this month, The man was shot in the leg and taken to Playa del Carmen hospital, The tourist areas sit near incredibly impoverished neighbourhoods, Police insist that the majority of the violence takes place away from the hotel zone, The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is known for torturing and dismembering its victim, The new breed of Mexican drug cartels known for dismembering their victims who are turning Brit holiday hotspots Cancun and Playa Del Carmen into war zones, Frogmore eviction shows King Charles has drawn a line with Harry - now he must do two more things with the spoilt brat, Harry's vicious attacks on Camilla could not be forgiven by King Charles - he had to hit back, Constance Marten: Baby's body found after massive police search, as cops question runaway aristocrat & Mark Gordon, Rishi Sunak to finally unveil delayed small boats law next week after Brexit win, Ministers vow to never use draconian spy law to jail journalists, a lifeguard working at a five-star resort near Tulum was gunned down, Morgues even closed down in the Mexican state of Guerrero, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). They use undercover security or sicarios. It was like something out of a horror film.. Were talking about drug trafficking but also extortion. They were using the beach as a well-protected place to hide in plain sight. The Zetas, a paramilitary group founded by former Mexican military personnel, and the Beltrn-Leyva Cartel, based in Michoacn, Mexico, are two examples. Many fatalities are those killed in turf wars between the different gangs competing for trafficking routes into the US. The water provided by the hotel is the Only option and it WILL make you sick! Acapulco was a highly touted destination from the 1950s, all the way to the early 2000s. I think few escape that, not even the beach vendors and taco stands. For other inquiries, Contact Us. He filled me in on some additional details about how the game works. People are always shocked by that. CJNG has produced a number of videos that show off its weapons and muscles. When Mexico fully confronted drug cartels, Acapulco was one of the hardest hit. As a growing number of cartels and criminal organizations compete for territory, there is an increasing level of violent inter- and intra-cartel conflict and conflict with the Mexican state. "Since 2017 there have been a number of reported shooting incidents and other incidents of violence in the main tourist destinations, including in locations popular with tourists. The CJNG will continue its rivalry with the Zetas and other cartels, but it will be clear soon that the most dangerous criminal organization in Mexico is the government. They use our country as a relief valve, sending off millions of their poor here. We were very pleased to read your comments about the facilities and to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us for the great service that each of the colleagues could offer during your stay with us as they were Eugene, Pedro and Edgar.Thank you once again for taking time off your busy schedule to share us this fantastic review and should you ever require another exquisite retreat, we will be more than happy to accommodate you once again.Kindest regards,Jorge DucoingManaging DirectorHotel Xcaret Mxico. Police in Mexico have stepped up their war on the drug cartels, but theyll have to win hearts and minds if they want Brits to keep coming back to the Caribbean coastlines turquoise waters. "But now the new cartel members, like those from . Do drug cartels own resorts? Mexico and Central America are the source of 90 percent of the drugs entering the United States. In January, a bloody shootout between its cartel members and a rival gang left seven dead in Cancun. The larger rifles in case of cartel attack are usually kept in the back of their Ford Explorers, along with a magazine carrying 25 bullets. In addition to patrolling the beaches in uniform, the troops are currently assisting authorities in the investigation of the murder of the bar manager at Playa del Carmen. We booked at a very large and fairly swanky all-inclusive resort hotel. The region used to be mainly ruled by the Los Zetas cartel but the Sinaloa and Gulf cartels have engaged them in a brutal conflict. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. How much money do you need to live comfortably in Mexico? Thank you Rolando and Hotel Xcaret for making our honeymoon! He takes your money for the drugs. According to my new friend, the cartels really dont want to be in the business of making small scale marijuana deliveries. This is a major metropolitan area with a large population and a lot of drug trafficking activity, so it stands to reason that cartels would be present. See also Can you drink beer on Naples beach? Something has changed. Photo credit:Daniel Aguilar/Getty Images, Be the first to know what's trending, straight from Elite Daily, I Tried Rejection Therapy Because TikTok Told Me To, After A Breakup, Kat Stickler Turned To TikTok For Healing, Are We Still On? & More Mistakes Youre Making When Texting A Date, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. None of them were wearing the hotel bracelet. Even though violence is not widespread, the impact of organized crime weighs heavily on the area. Increasingly this stretch of paradise - which includes the white sandy beaches of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum - is blighted by cartels battling for power and territory. Increasingly this stretch of paradise which includes the white sandy beaches of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum is blighted by cartels battling for power and territory. Aside from gang-related violence, this citys crime rate is low. As cartel members are dispersed, other gangs have taken over their ranks. As a result, the CJNG has been linked to a number of high-profile killings, assassination attempts on government officials, and significant drug trafficking operations. They were speaking what sounded like Russian. It is not safe to travel to Nogales without precautions, but remember that the border between the United States and Mexico is almost always used for international drug trafficking and human trafficking. I cannot believe I was so nave to take my family there.. Violent drug gangs are waging a bloody war in the tourist haven of Quintana Roo - visited by millions of British and American holidaymakers each year. The cartels also did not want to draw attention to particular areas that were important highways for transporting drugs from Mexico to the US. Stuart Thomson, 46, from Glasgow, said: A friend told me that 20 years ago you needed a bodyguard to get out of here its not like that now. We traveled with our family and had two kids under the age of two, and one started teething while we were there and they were so kind to order baby orajel for them and made our trip that much better! CJNG have been targeted several times. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. There is no definitive answer to this question, as cartels are notoriously difficult to track and quantify. They had neither bracelets or swimsuits. The food is mostly crap buffet food that sits around a open forum all day long and isnt replenished, and there restaurants that demand reservations so far in advance are empty, you walk in and they tell you to wait 20 minutes so they can set up the outside terrace but its 9:30.. then when you sit at 9:30 your told to order everything right away so the staff can go home. The Zetas Cartel is in charge of Quintana Roo. Mr Almonte said the violence has stemmed from battles being fought between the two main drug cartels operating in the area, the Gulf Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. According to the police, the hitmen were members of the Sinaloa drug gang. El Gordo was suspected of leading a Jalisco New Generation cell in Cancun and was wanted for multiple murders including a narco hit which saw a stray bullet kill a six-year-old girl. Xcaret is the best resort we have ever stayed at from the food to the parks it was truly the best honeymoon we could have ever asked for. ELI5: How is it resort destinations in Mexico, such as Cancun, stay safe and keep the Cartel related kidnapping and murders that take place all over the country from happening there? In the state of Ocotln, where Jalisco Governor Javier Njera is unpopular, the security situation has deteriorated. I knew that the drug lords want to keep tourists coming in. Violence is rare in the Cancun resorts area, as being robbed and assaulted in the tourist zones is almost unheard of. and remember this is all included.I won't spend a lot of time on the Xcaret Parks that can be included, I am sure they will have their own sites to write them up, suffice it to say that they measure up if you are active, the Cenotes with the zip lines and slides, the Fuego Zip lines are something else (we have done ZIps in several countries and these are excellent and safe.) We tourists are literally the geese who lay golden eggs. And in January the manager of a trendy beach club was found dead just five days after two Canadian citizens were killed in a shootout at a hotel, again in Playa del Carmen. However, the FCO also says most tourist visits are "trouble-free". The cocaine port that housed numerous criminal organizations was spun into havoc. But at 10am on June 2, the peace at the Grand Bahia Principe hotel, 15 miles from Tulum, was shattered by the sound of gunfire sending Brit holidaymakers into a panic. In Playa del Carmen, the murder rate sees no sign of slowing down. They were sitting on the beach directly under the lifeguard chair. We are already planning a trip back! Its a jungle. The dudes who pick up the money or drop off the drugs didnt speak English at all. We just want you to know that were here. This was hands down the best decision weve ever made! It had a steam shower with both rain head and wand, Jacuzzi tub, firm king bed, couch, table and two chairs, so the room was not small. But I didnt know how much income those tourists also provided directly to the cartels in terms of illicit drug sales. It is best not to pay attention to yourself or travel to unfamiliar areas. There's a lot of money there and you have people from all over the world who go there to party and vacation. We really do appreciate our guests taking the time to leave us feedback, and we love hearing about our guests experiences.We are encouraged to offer unforgettable experiences and our team works diligently to communicate our brand through a unique and warm service, with the commitment that all our guests take the best of Mxico deep in their heart.We are pleased to know that you can spend a memorable vacation and more celebrating something so important for you and your friends like the 70th Birthday.We are proud to know that each corner of your suite could exceed your expectations, with the comfort of your shower to the hammock of your terrace watching our wonderful river.For Hotel Xcaret Mxico it is an honor to know that you were able to enjoy our All Fun Inclusive concept where you could visit Xplor Fuego, Xenotes and Xcaret.Rest assured that we remain at your entire service and disposal, should you want to come back to our resort please do not hesitate to contact us, ascertain that we would be thrilled to cater to your every need once again.Best regards,Jorge DucoingManaging DirectorHotel Xcaret Mxico. 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