I love my home profoundly, he said. Last week Mr. Lpez Obrador announced that the guard would receive an additional $2.5 billion in funding. 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. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Queretaro state Exercise Increased Caution. MEXICO CITY, Mexico Mexico's organized crime violence has burst into full view in recent days, as police in the north-central state of Zacatecas reported finding 14 bodies dumped on a . U.S. government employees may travel to other parts of Sonora state in compliance with the above restrictions, including tourist areas in: Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, and Puerto Penasco. Cartel Violence in Central Mexico Taking Hold in Jerez - InSight Crime Gunfire awakened residents, and some witnesses posted short video clips of the armed clashes on social media. The leftwing populist Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan state. Yucatan state Exercise Normal Precautions. Reconsider Travel To: Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping. 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. Zacatecas on alert after mass killings reported on consecutive weekends . The state has the obligation to guarantee peace and tranquility, the security of all citizens, Lopez Obrador said in his usual morning conference. Most of the violence in Zacatecas is caused by the ongoing turf war between the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, experts say. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in San Luis Potosi state. But Calderns policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn. Zacatecas is a city and municipality in Mexico, and the capital and largest city of the state of Zacatecas. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. The issue of violence is terrifying, said Victor Pia, a lifelong resident of Zacatecas state who lives in the city of Fresnillo. David Monreal said he was starting work when he got word of the grisly discovery. While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have injured innocent bystanders. 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. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. The situation is out of control.. Francisco Murillo, the state's chief prosecutor, said seven of the 10 bodies had been autopsied and all died of "asphyxiation by strangulation." This story has been shared 395,864 times. Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. In 2019, there were 560 killings linked to organized crime, up to 920 in 2020. Ataque contra policas en Zacatecas deja 5 presuntos agresores muertos Also, travelers can be cheated with tour tickets. 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. Those jockeying for turf in Zacatecas include the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Gulf and Northeast. Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. We stood in a beautiful hotel with a bullring design, the Quinta Real. 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. Taxi is a safe way of getting around. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Puebla state. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. 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 fentanyl. 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. An altar for Henry and his two friends who were murdered together in front of Guadalupes house. 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. When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. 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. Quintana Roo state Exercise Increased Caution. For more than 10 years, the US and Mexico have worked together to fight drug trafficking under a programme called the Merida Initiative, with Washington providing military firepower, technical support, and security training. Jerez has been hit in recent years by a wave of violence that last year forced hundreds of residents of nearby rural communities to leave their homes. The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered in Zacatecas state after apparent confrontation between suspected cartels. U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Sinaloa state. Criminal organizations are based in and operating in Sinaloa. 2023 Copyright by Travel Safe - Abroad. 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. Valparaiso borders Jalisco state, a stronghold of a powerful cartel called Jalisco Nueva Generacion. 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. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with cadavers found dangling from bridges, stuffed into plastic bags or even tied to a cross. The Mexican Army and the National Guard launched an operation to search for the kidnapped people, who were not identified. 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 restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico State. 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. Children exercising as part of a local crime-prevention program. Are you on Telegram? In 2020 there were more than 1,200 executions in Zacatecas. Members of the National Guard providing security at a crime scene in Celaya, Mexico, last week. Check news sources before traveling to Zacatecas. U.S. government employees may not travel to other parts of Tamaulipas state. Mexican cartel hangs six bodies in Zacatecas turf war - New York Post Definitely helps to know Spanish if you come to visit. As InSight Crime reported in January, Zacatecas is beset by Mexico's two major rival cartels, the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as their regional allies. Transnational criminal organizations compete in the border area to establish narco-trafficking and human smuggling routes. The battle was between rival gangs fighting over turf, Aguilar told Milenio TV. Drug routes U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. Criminal activity and violence may occur in any location, at any time, including in popular tourist destinations. Were losing the ability to be shocked, said Javier Torres Rodrguez, whose brother was killed in 2018. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend. Mexico City Assailants left 10 beaten, murdered bodies in front of the governor's office in the north-central Mexican state of Zacatecas on Thursday. Crime in Zacatecas. Safety in Zacatecas - Numbeo Country Summary: Violent crime such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery is widespread and common in Mexico. A street mural shows a young man killed in the Olivares neighborhood of Fresnillo. 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. Authorities in Zacatecas confirmed last week that a U.S. resident was among four people killed in the state around Christmas time. On Tuesday a shooting near a kindergarten in Sinaloa state left two dead; a video shared on social media showed children cowering under their desks as their teacher tried to comfort them with the music of Taylor Swift. When was the last time you came for a visit? Terrorist attacks do not often happen here. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Cartel violence erupts: Dozens of bodies found dumped in northern 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. He was swept to victory. 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. 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 . See state summaries and advisory levels below for information on your specific travel destination. in terms of going there we have no issues. April 27, 2023. Elderly Inland Empire Man Beaten To Death In Tijuana: Report But security experts say the guard, which the president plans to incorporate into the armed forces, has proved ineffective. Three men were dragged out of the bar by the armed group. Zacatecas isnt the safest city in Mexico. Mugging is spread shared in Zacatecas. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. It was Guadalupe who found the teenagers bodies. But be sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip. Zacatecas, a Mexican State where organized crime killings doubled in 2 The motive, and the identity of the killers, remain unknown. And I see that its going through the worst crisis in its history., Amlo promised to take Mexicos army off the streets but he made it more powerful, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Overall homicides dropped by about 7% in the first 10 months of 2022, compared with the same period last year, official figures show. Mexico State (Estado de Mexico) Exercise Increased Caution. The index of crime is quite high for the city. Between 2015 and 2021, the number of murders in the state increased by a staggering 400%. We had no problem in terms of crime. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. As crime rises in Mexico, women are in particular danger - of "disappearance", kidnapping, sexual assault and murder. In the last year alone, homicides have increased by more than 60%. Aguascalientes state Exercise Increased Caution. 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. Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions: U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Michoacan, including the portions of theMonarch Butterfly Reservelocated in Michoacan. 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. 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. 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. 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. One showed possible signs of torture. Campeche state Exercise Normal Precautions. Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos state. I hear from all who visit that they like the peacefulness of the city. Four Colombians from the same family died last Sunday, April 23rd while traveling on a highway in Zacatecas, Mexico. Murillo said that of the five bodies identified so far, three had been detained previously on drug or robbery charges. President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador has been unable to significantly reduce homicides in Mexico. 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. Instead of arresting and killing traffickers as previous leaders had done, he would focus on the causes of violence: hugs not bullets, he called it. We are improving, we are advancing, we will not stop protecting the people.. co-director of the research group InSight Crime. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. 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. Mexico covers 1,972,550 km 2 (761,610 sq mi), making it the world's 13th-largest . There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Nuevo Leon state. Now, the colonial part of the city is a World Heritage Site, due to the Baroque architecture and other structures built during mining days. 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. Nuevo Leon state Exercise Increased Caution. "Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state,"the advisory says. Amlo also pledged to chair daily 6am security meetings and create a 60,000 strong "National Guard". Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To: Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To: Visit our website forTravel to High-Risk Areas. Zacatecas has been plagued by a shortage of municipal police, who would abandon their posts in fear of retaliation by criminal elements. Review the. Drug-related violence has killed more than 300,000 people in Mexico since 2006 [File- Tomas Bravo/Reuters] The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered after an apparent gun battle between. Additionally, a 20-year-old woman from Zacatecas has been positively identified by her family members as one of the victims. However, as elsewhere in Mexico, you must stay updated on the news on this subject. In these areas, local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to incidents of crime. While most gang-related violence is targeted, violence perpetrated by criminal organizations can affect bystanders. This lack of police presence has led to the growing insecurity in many of the municipalities. U.S. citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. Federal and state security forces attended the crime scene and cordoned off the area. It fills me with rage, with indignation.. The . Mexico: 18 bodies found after suspected drug cartel gun battle His brother, David, is governor-elect of Zacatecas. 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. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Tabasco state. But the violence went on. Dec. 1, 2011. Fresnillo, which sits in the center of important roads and highways, is strategically vital. My husband and I live in Zacatecas city. The vehicle was parked under a Christmas. I retired in Zacatecas after living in Wisconsin my entire life, I love it here! U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Violent day in Zacatecas leaves 14 murders and 11 kidnappings. Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Jalisco state. Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos. 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. But the collection of programs and law-enforcement actions never coalesced into a clear public policy, critics said.