Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. 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. The bodies of eight men and two women were found crammed into a pickup truck left before dawn near a Christmas tree in the main plaza of the state capital, also named Zacatecas. 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. 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. 4124. I love my home profoundly, he said. 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.. At least three people were taken at gunpoint from a bar by armed men at dawn on Saturday, June 18, in the municipal seat of Jerez de Garca Salinas, in Zacatecas, a state in northcentral Mexico. Children exercising as part of a local crime-prevention program. 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. Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity particularly along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo. But be sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip. The possibility of pickpocketing is high, you need to monitor your pockets. In response, the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent in security reinforcements. 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. From the United States 1-844-528-6611. State prosecutors . 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. But the violence went on. Violent crime and gang activity are common. 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. Of course like any other city there is crime, but there are many, many tourists here. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. Caldern hoped to smash the drug cartels with his heavily militarized onslaught but the approach was counter-productive and exacted a catastrophic human toll. 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. InSight Crime Analysis The vehicle was parked under a Christmas. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on travel to Mexico. 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. More violence this week forced schools and universities to cancel classes in Zacatecas state. Those jockeying for turf in Zacatecas include the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Gulf and Northeast. Also, travelers can be cheated with tour tickets. Witnesses said people panicked as the club's floor became awash in blood. Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders per day, with nearly 29,000 people killed since Amlo took office. Too scared to stay in the same house, they moved in with Guadalupes parents in a different part of town. 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. A street mural shows a young man killed in the Olivares neighborhood of Fresnillo. 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. Simultaneously Caldern also began pursuing the so-calledkingpin strategyby which authorities sought to decapitate the cartels by targeting their leaders. Zacatecas state, in the north-central region, has been plagued . 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. Amlo has pointed to a slight drop in murders since he took office as sign his strategy is working. InSight Crime Analysis This wave of police killings can best be understood in light of the ongoing turf war ravaging Zacatecas and the state's inability to protect its forces. Yes, terrorism, not an issue here, but all of many other crimes as robbery, hijacking, and violence are common here. Zacatecas prosecutors confirmed the identities of the three women, found in a clandestine grave in the town of . Baja California state Reconsider Travel. 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. Fresnillos mayor, Sal Monreal, said the National Guard hasnt done enough. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. increasingly relied on the armed forces to tackle the violence. Aguascalientes state Exercise Increased Caution. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Veracruz state. Under Calderns successor, Enrique Pea Nieto, the governments rhetoric on crime softened as Mexico sought to shed its reputation as the headquarters of some the worlds most murderous mafia groups. Oaxaca state Exercise Increased Caution. 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. The updated Travel Advisory includes new information on the Coahuila, Mexico, Nayarit, and Zacatecas states. As a consequence, the ministry of Defense . All rights reserved. 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. At least 948 people have been killed in Zacatecas over the first 10 months of this year. This story has been shared 159,213 times. An altar for Henry and his two friends who were murdered together in front of Guadalupes house. Tlaxcala state Exercise Increased Caution. in terms of going there we have no issues. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. But we must be conscious that were talking about a staggering level of homicides and other lethal practices that are still the norm in Mexico.. There are areas of the country that are simply out of state control.. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Nayarit state. 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. There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Durango state. The case was also mentioned by President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador during his weekly news conference Friday. Now she and her family live in terror. January 30, 2023 / 6:20 AM His family is politically powerful. The state has taken some steps to address this crisis, but it can do much more. Between the weekend and today, 12 civilians were shot dead; two state police officers gunned down on public roads; two armed confrontations between gunmen belonging to antagonistic organized crime groups in the municipalities of Jerez and Fresnillo; the . When was the last time you came for a visit? U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Sinaloa state. 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. I hear from all who visit that they like the peacefulness of the city. But for much of its recent history, residents say they were largely left alone. 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. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. In Fresnillo, 96 percent of residents say they feel unsafe the highest percentage of any city in Mexico. Now, the colonial part of the city is a World Heritage Site, due to the Baroque architecture and other structures built during mining days. Tabasco state Exercise Increased Caution. The . 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. All Rights Reserved. Were losing the ability to be shocked.. Theres nothing here, she said. 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. . Quintana Roo state Exercise Increased Caution. Her 10-year-old daughter can barely sleep, she said, and Guadalupe keeps dreaming of her sons killing. Fresnillo, which sits in the center of important roads and highways, is strategically vital. In 2020 there were more than 1,200 executions in Zacatecas. 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 . There is peace and calm, he said in June. In October, the authorities said they had frozen 1,352 bank accounts linked to 14 criminal groups, including powerful drug cartels. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Quintana Roo state, which include tourist areas in:Cancun,Cozumel, Isla Mujeres,Playa del Carmen,Tulum, andtheRiviera Maya. 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. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. Review the. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. 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. And it increased in the last years. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. Mexico State (Estado de Mexico) Exercise Increased Caution. But there is a risk of being robbed or cheated. 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. Grim incidents multiplied in northern Zacatecas state late last year with bodies found hanging in public places. Guanajuato state due to crime and kidnapping. Check news sources before traveling to Zacatecas. Overall homicides dropped by about 7% in the first 10 months of 2022, compared with the same period last year, official figures show. That began changing around 2007 and 2008 as the governments assault on the cartels led them to splinter, evolve and spread. Puebla state Exercise Increased Caution. But in recent years, the area of Mexico's map affected by organized crime has sprawled wider and wider. 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. Zacatecas isnt the safest city in Mexico. So you can not say that not many tourists come here. Using buses, taxis and walking are preferable because of the winding streets. Mugging is spread shared in Zacatecas. I mean a lot. In general, the city is quite safe. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state, which include tourist areas in:Chichen Itza,Merida,Uxmal, andValladolid. Now, the city lies desolate after dark. MXICO DF - Ms de 150 escritores y artistas conocidos internacionalmente firmaron una peticin para pedirle al presidente mexicano Felipe Caldern cancelar las concesiones . Theres not a clear security policy.. Three vehicles, one of them burned-out, were found at the scene, as well as a significant number of casings of different calibres, according to the governments Local Coordination Group, in charge of security in Zacatecas. Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Durango state. U.S. government employees must adhere to the noted restrictions: Travelers may use Highways 2 and 2D to transit between Mexicali, Los Algodones, and San Luis Rio Colorado during daylight hours. 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. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. The main risks in the region are associated with droughts. Drug routes 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. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Travelers may also use Highways 1 and 8 to transit to and from the Mexicali Airport during daylight hours. Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Ricardo Barrn Guzmn is the last name in a long and sad list: that of assassinated police officers in Mexico . Chiapas state Exercise Increased Caution. Gov. Zacatecas has been plagued by a shortage of municipal police, who would abandon their posts in fear of retaliation by criminal elements. EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) - Authorities in Zacatecas have ramped up security in two contiguous towns where eight people were gunned down during the weekend.. She can remember sitting on the stoop with neighbors until midnight as a young girl. Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter. However, as elsewhere in Mexico, you must stay updated on the news on this subject. 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. Authorities said the kidnappers left road spikes in the path of oncoming police to evade pursuit. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Baja California Sur state Exercise Increased Caution. 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. 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 . 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Employees traveling to Manzanillo from Guadalajara must use Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours. See state summaries and advisory levels below for information on your specific travel destination. Campeche state Exercise Normal Precautions. Thanks for contacting us. The index of crime is quite high for the city. Some of the victims showed signs of being tied by their hands and feet. The bar, called "El Venadito," is in the center of Jerez, a municipality about 36 miles southwest of the state capital city of Zacatecas. The news came almost as fast as the bullets were fired: a judge murdered in cold blood; cartel members attempting a prison break; five people killed at a bar in a popular port city. Its the capital of a landlocked province. "Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state,"the advisory says. . And as the strategy of militarization fails, residents like Pia are left to deal with unending violence. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. 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. Eight people died and five were injured in a shooting at a busy nightclub in the town of Jerez, in northern Mexico, police said Sunday. Thats 342 more than were murdered over the same time frame last year, authorities said. Theres also a lot of history here but that was less interesting to me. 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 . co-director of the research group InSight Crime. Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of crime and kidnapping. We've received your submission.
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