Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. The index of crime is quite high for the city. Enter your email address to follow Pulse News Mexico and receive notifications of new posts by email. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A vicious battle for control of Zacatecas between Mexico's two most powerful drug cartels continues with no clear end in sight. 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. "What we received was a cursed inheritance" from previous administrations, Monreal said. 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. 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. Francisco Murillo, the state's chief prosecutor, said seven of the 10 bodies had been autopsied and all died of "asphyxiation by strangulation." Despite campaigning on a promise to take the military off the streets, Lpez Obrador, or Amlo as hes commonly known, has increasingly relied on the armed forces to tackle the violence, deploying the army and the national guard across the country. The motive, and the identity of the killers, remain unknown. Due to the wealth that the mines provided, Zacatecas became one of the most important cities in the area. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread. 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. A street mural shows a young man killed in the Olivares neighborhood of Fresnillo. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 5 Feb 2022. More violence this week forced schools and universities to cancel classes in Zacatecas state. 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. 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 . 194. His brother, David, is governor-elect of Zacatecas. Coahuila state Exercise Increased Caution. / CBS/AFP. increasingly relied on the armed forces to tackle the violence. That's 342 more than were murdered over the same time frame last year, authorities said. And it increased in the last years. Of particular concern is the high number of homicides in the non-tourist areas of Tijuana. Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping. Mugging is spread shared in Zacatecas. President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador has been unable to significantly reduce homicides in Mexico. 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. But security experts say the guard, which the president plans to incorporate into the armed forces, has proved ineffective. Durango state due to crime. It is beautiful City and much less chance being pick-pocketed in San Francisco,CA than here. 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. In fact, many believe such tactics served only to pulverize the world of organized crime, creating even more violence as new, less predictable factions squabbled for their piece of the pie. 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. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. Murillo said that of the five bodies identified so far, three had been detained previously on drug or robbery charges. Zacatecas was where thousands of local slaves were forced by the Spanish to toil in the mines. So far, police have a partial identification on four of the bodies. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. The economy can boom and bust, presidents and parties and their promises can come and go, but for the citys 140,000 people, as for many in Mexico, there is a growing sense that no matter what changes, the violence endures. Nayarit state Exercise Increased Caution. Taxi is a safe way of getting around. In Fresnillo, the National Guard hasnt done enough, according to the citys mayor, Sal Monreal, a member of the presidents Morena party. San Luis Potosi state Exercise Increased Caution. The department said federal agencies were sending reinforcements to Zacatecas to help in the investigation. But in recent years, the area of Mexico's map affected by organized crime has sprawled wider and wider. U.S. travelers are reminded that U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions: There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees to other parts of Oaxaca state, which include tourist areas in:Oaxaca City,Monte Alban,Puerto Escondido,andHuatulco. Quintana Roo state Exercise Increased Caution. (modern). This story has been shared 159,213 times. It seemed that a woman with her children wanted me kicked out of the restaurant but management refused. Fresnillos mayor, Sal Monreal, said the National Guard hasnt done enough. Children exercising as part of a local crime-prevention program. Caught in the middle of the fighting are residents like Guadalupe. There are no other travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Baja California state. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Campeche state. Zacatecas Governor David Monreal condemned what he called a "cowardly attack" and offered his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the victims. Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico) Exercise Increased Caution. 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. A burnt-out truck blocks a highway on Monday after an attempted prison break in Zacatecas state. On Wednesday morning another shootout between the military and members of an organized crime gang in the border city of Nuevo Laredo left seven people dead, just over a week after shootouts forced schools in the city to cancel classes. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Violent crime and gang activity occur with increasing frequency in Veracruz, particularly in the center and south near Cordoba and Coatzacoalcos. 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 . Keep valuables in a hotel safe and keep an eye on your money and documents. In 2020 there were more than 1,200 executions in Zacatecas. Like other central states including Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi and Aguascalientes, Zacatecas has witnessed a grisly rise in violence. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with cadavers found dangling from bridges, stuffed into plastic bags or even tied to a cross. 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. One central pillar of his approach to fighting crime has been the creation of the National Guard, a 100,000-strong federal security force deployed across some 180 regional barracks nationwide. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. By the time Pea Nieto left office in 2018, Mexico had suffered another record year of murders, with nearly 36,000 people slain. Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. Additionally, a 20-year-old woman from Zacatecas has been positively identified by her family members as one of the victims. Members of the justice department bearing the coffin of a judge killed in Zacatecas on Sunday. I hear from all who visit that they like the peacefulness of the city. Guadalupes oldest son was murdered in Fresnillo last month. Violent crime and gang activity are common. 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. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments. See state summaries and advisory levels below for information on your specific travel destination. Violent crime is widespread. Violent crime and gang activity are common. State prosecutors . April 27, 2023. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping in previous years. On the night her son was killed, in mid-July, four armed men stormed into her home, dragging out her son, Henry, and two friends who were sleeping over. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Nuevo Leon state. However, as elsewhere in Mexico, you must stay updated on the news on this subject. 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. Travelers may also use Highways 1 and 8 to transit to and from the Mexicali Airport during daylight hours. According to the first versions, the events occurred after an armed attack when individuals tried to stop the vehicle in which the Colombians were traveling, but the driver continued on. Across Mexico, murders have dropped less than 1 percent since Mr. Lpez Obrador took office, according to the countrys statistics agency. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with. At least 948 people were killed by violence in Zacatecas in the first 10 months of 2021, according to official data, 342 more than in the same period a year earlier. Zacatecas is the colonial city and that the real Mexico begins to emerge. 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. Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping. He would break with the failed tactics of his predecessors, he said. in terms of crime weve never had issues. Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs. Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Its another example of the failed policy of military deployment, said Catalina Prez Correa, a law professor at Mexico Citys CIDE university. Theres also a lot of history here but that was less interesting to me. Make sure you buy tickets on tours in a licensed place and be watchful. It terrifies me, Pia said of the violence. Zacatecas has been the scene of bloody turf battles between the Jalisco and Sinaloa drug cartels. There are areas of the country that are simply out of state control.. Those jockeying for turf in Zacatecas include the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Gulf and Northeast. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Hidalgo state. 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. Now, the city lies desolate after dark. On July 12, the U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory urging Americans to reconsider travel to Mexico, including Zacatecas, which the government warned of crime and kidnappings. 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. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. We had no problem in terms of crime. The Mexican Army and the National Guard launched an operation to search for the kidnapped people, who were not identified. The leftwing populist Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. But there is a risk of being robbed or cheated. I do not want the night to come, she said, through tears. U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS, U.S. Citizen Services: From Mexico 800-681-9374 or 55-8526-2561. "We will do whatever is necessary . Check the authorized source for the latest updates before your visit to the city. 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. 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. Shooting incidents between criminal groupshave injured or killed bystanders. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Nayarit 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. Thirty-seven (37) attractions and sixteen (16) museums not bad for a place I had never heard of, I had no idea. But those measures have yet to pay off, with the new security force used mostly to hunt Central American migrants. 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 head of the Drug Enforcement Administration told CBS News that the two cartels are behind the influx of fentanyl in the U.S. that's killing tens of thousands of Americans. Ten bodies, belonging to eight men and two women, were found Thursday in a parked van near the governor's office in Zacatecas in north-central Mexico. However, personnel are advised to exercise increased situational awareness after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones. Also, it's better to avoid bars and nightclubs. Gunfire awakened residents, and some witnesses posted short video clips of the armed clashes on social media. Italian gynecologist allegedly offered to have sex with wo Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt by drunk driver just minutes after leaving reception, Ed Sheeran: 'I'm done' if found liable in Marvin Gaye 'Let's Get it On' copyright lawsuit, Sydney Sweeney shows off her curves in embellished Miu Miu at Met Gala 2023, Anna Wintour and boyfriend Bill Nighy make Met Gala debut as a couple, Gisele Bndchen is free as a bird in feathers at first Met Gala post-Tom Brady split, Khristina Williams previews the New York Liberty's 2023 WNBA season, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Met Gala red carpet: Live updates of all the celebrity outfits. Mexican authorities have found the bodies of an Ohio man's fiancee, her sister, and cousin, who were all with 36-year-old Jose Gutierrez when they disappeared after leaving a restaurant where'd they'd had dinner on December 25. 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 are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Tabasco 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. We are improving, we are advancing, we will not stop protecting the people.. Mexico State (Estado de Mexico) Exercise Increased Caution. 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. Queretaro state Exercise Increased Caution. Baja California Sur state Exercise Increased Caution. In these areas, local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to incidents of crime. U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Chihuahua, includingCopper Canyon. An altar for Henry and his two friends who were murdered together in front of Guadalupes house. I retired in Zacatecas after living in Wisconsin my entire life, I love it here! Mexico has been unable to transform a justice . 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. In April of this year, six bodies with obvious signs of torture were found in Pinos, Zacatecas, a townnear the state border with San Luis Potos. At least 948 people have been killed in Zacatecas over the first 10 months of this year. 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. Nuevo Leon state Exercise Increased Caution. Members of the National Guard work at a crime scene where assailants left nine bodies of men hanging from a bridge, in Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, in Zacatecas state, Mexico, November 18, 2021. Also, travelers can be cheated with tour tickets. 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. Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with noted restrictions: U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Colima state. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Find the most up-to-date statistics and facts on crime and violence in Mexico. Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. FRESNILLO, Mexico The violence was already terrifying, she said, when grenades exploded outside her church in broad daylight some five years ago. Zacatecas state has become a focal point for the violence as powerful organized crime groups compete for the strategically significant region, with highways that head both toward the northern border and the Pacific coast. This story has been shared 395,864 times. Dec. 1, 2011. 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. The risk of cheating with credit cards in Zacatecas is high. 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. Employees traveling to Manzanillo from Guadalajara must use Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours. My husband and I live in Zacatecas city. Baja California state Reconsider Travel. And two men were found crucified in the city of Morelos in July, in what police attributed to organized crime. Zacatecas state, in the north-central region, has been plagued . 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. January 30, 2023 / 6:20 AM 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. Mexico covers 1,972,550 km 2 (761,610 sq mi), making it the world's 13th-largest . 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. In the last year alone, homicides have increased by more than 60%. Late last year, grim incidents multiplied in the northern state with bodies found hanging in public places. There were many steps to climb so you do need a certain level of fitness. Zacatecas Governor David Monreal vila a member of the leftist National Regeneration Movement (Morena) of Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador (AMLO) has been under intense criticism for failing to curb the violence and killings since he assumed office in September 2021. First published on January 7, 2022 / 5:11 AM. Photo: Google. Yes, terrorism, not an issue here, but all of many other crimes as robbery, hijacking, and violence are common here. Valparaiso borders Jalisco state, a stronghold of a powerful cartel called Jalisco Nueva Generacion. But be sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip. There were 31,615 killings in the first 11 months of 2021, a decline of just 3.6% from the 32,814 in 2020. The incidents are part of a deadly uptick in violence in recent months as cartels fight for control of drug trafficking in the region. Caldern hoped to smash the drug cartels with his heavily militarized onslaught but the approach was counter-productive and exacted a catastrophic human toll. On Sunday, as reports emerged of violence erupting in the city after the failed prison break, Pia sheltered at home with his son, listening to the sirens that have become a common soundtrack in this city. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. The Mexican Army is deployed in Zacatecas, Mexico, amid escalating violence. 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. Zacatecas, one of the most violent states in Mexico, registered a 52.2 percent increase in murders from January to November 2021 compared with the same period in 2020, while nationally, the number of murders dropped 2.2 percent during the same period, according to official data published by La Jornada Zacatecas. But not even the familys political prominence has managed to rescue the city or the state. Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan state. Crime and violence are widespread. That was enough for the president to claim, in a speech last month, that there had been an improvement on a problem his administration inherited. 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. There is peace and calm, he said in June. Soldiers and national guard troops have been deployed throughout Mexico to combat crime gangs, but violence remains shockingly high, with more than 26,000 murders so far this year. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. A police officer in Mexico's Zacatecas city holds up caution tape at the scene of a shooting. Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos. David Monreal said he was starting work when he got word of the grisly discovery. His government has also gone after the financing behind organized crime. U.S. government employees may not drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior parts of Mexico, except daytime travel within Baja California and between Nogales and Hermosillo on Mexican Federal Highway 15D, and between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey on Highway 85D. Zacatecas, once dominated by the old Zetas cartel, is being fought over by a dizzying number of cartels.
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