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. 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. 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. The U.S. State Department includes Zacatecas on its "Do not travel to" advisory for Americans due to ongoing crime and abductions. 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. The leftwing populist Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 5 Feb 2022. And it could get to 1,500 deaths by the end of the year if nothing is done, the secretary of national defense foresees. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged on Friday there were security problems in the region, but said his administration was making progress in the fight against crime. My husband and I live in Zacatecas city. U.S. government employees should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas. It is very conservative and I believe I got in trouble for being sleeveless (it was hard to say as I dont understand Spanish). 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. Federal and state security forces attended the crime scene and cordoned off the area. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Queretaro state. Zacatecas has been the scene of bloody turf battles between the Jalisco and Sinaloa drug cartels. Local media have reported a series of shootings since Wednesday when the bodies of two police officers were found hanging from a bridge in Zacatecas. A burnt-out truck blocks a highway on Monday after an attempted prison break in Zacatecas state. Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Travelers should "exercise increased caution when traveling to" Coahuila, Mexico and . Most homicides appeared to be targeted; however, criminal organization assassinations and territorial disputes can result in bystanders being injured or killed. Now, the city lies desolate after dark. my family often travels to zacatecas yearly, we go to a more smaller town but do go to zacatecas. 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. . 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. I retired in Zacatecas after living in Wisconsin my entire life, I love it here! In response, the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent in security reinforcements. The incidents are part of a deadly uptick in violence in recent months as cartels fight for control of drug trafficking in the region. The kidnappings in Jerez de Garca Salinas occurred just hours after clashes erupted between armed groups, also in Jerez, leaving at least four people dead. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide . At least 948 people have been killed in Zacatecas over the first 10 months of this year. Due to the wealth that the mines provided, Zacatecas became one of the most important cities in the area. Last week Mr. Lpez Obrador announced that the guard would receive an additional $2.5 billion in funding. This article was published more than1 year ago. 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. First published on January 30, 2023 / 6:20 AM. Like other central states including Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi and Aguascalientes, Zacatecas has witnessed a grisly rise in violence. 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. Everyday there are groups of people from all over the world that come here to relax and see this beautiful city. But those measures have yet to pay off, with the new security force used mostly to hunt Central American migrants. Drug-related violence has killed more than 300,000 people in Mexico since 2006, when the government started deploying federal troops to fight the cartels as part of its so-called war on drugs. The Mexican Army and the National Guard launched an operation to search for the kidnapped people, who were not identified. It seemed that a woman with her children wanted me kicked out of the restaurant but management refused. Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of crime and kidnapping. 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. While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have injured innocent bystanders. The index of crime is quite high for the city. Another brother, Ricardo, leads the Morena party in the Senate and has said he intends to run for president in 2024. The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered in Zacatecas state after apparent confrontation between suspected cartels. Violence has. The issue of violence is terrifying, said Victor Pia, a lifelong resident of Zacatecas state who lives in the city of Fresnillo. Just recently, on June 8, two bags with human remains were found in the metropolitan municipality of Guadalupe, also in Zacatecas. Were losing the ability to be shocked.. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Review the. Its located in north-central Mexico and had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid-16th century. Drug routes Killings are on track to be much higher this year. But not even the familys political prominence has managed to rescue the city or the state. Members of the justice department bearing the coffin of a judge killed in Zacatecas on Sunday. Queretaro state Exercise Increased Caution. Morelos state due to crime. 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. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. Authorities said the kidnappers left road spikes in the path of oncoming police to evade pursuit. 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. Criminal organizations are based in and operating in Sinaloa. 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. Theyre here, theyre present, they do patrols, but what we really need right now is to be fighting organized crime, Mr. Monreal said. Authorities in Zacatecas confirmed last week that a U.S. resident was among four people killed in the state around Christmas time. 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. According to local reports, at least six individuals broke into the bar, firing shots, and proceeded to search the tables to locate the victims. Theres not a clear security policy.. We've received your submission. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. The vehicle was parked under a Christmas. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. 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. Quintana Roo state Exercise Increased Caution. Violent day in Zacatecas leaves 14 murders and 11 kidnappings. Its another example of the failed policy of military deployment, said Catalina Prez Correa, a law professor at Mexico Citys CIDE university. I mean a lot. On January 6, 10 bodies were found in a sports utility vehicle in the main square in the city of Zacatecas. Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state. You have to speak Spanish (my companion did) and his father was from the province so he appreciated more of the history then I did. co-director of the research group InSight Crime. 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. Violent crime and gang activity occur in parts of Coahuila state. All rights reserved. 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. Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan state. Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To: Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To: Visit our website forTravel to High-Risk Areas. She can remember sitting on the stoop with neighbors until midnight as a young girl. Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico) Exercise Increased Caution. 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. Of particular concern is the high number of murders in the southern region of the state associated with cartel-related violence. A street mural shows a young man killed in the Olivares neighborhood of Fresnillo. 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. But the violence went on. Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following area with the noted restrictions: U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Guerrero, including to tourist areas inAcapulco,Zihuatanejo, andIxtapa. 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. A city of beautiful cathedrals and art museums a lot of beautiful art! MXICO DF - Ms de 150 escritores y artistas conocidos internacionalmente firmaron una peticin para pedirle al presidente mexicano Felipe Caldern cancelar las concesiones . But be sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. Mexico (Spanish: Mxico), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America.It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. (modern). There is peace and calm, he said in June. 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. Guadalupes oldest son was murdered in Fresnillo last month. And it increased in the last years. It was Guadalupe who found the teenagers bodies. Agence France-Presse contributed to this report. 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 . In October, the authorities said they had frozen 1,352 bank accounts linked to 14 criminal groups, including powerful drug cartels. 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. Living with fear is no life at all.. 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. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in San Luis Potosi state. Zacatecas was where thousands of local slaves were forced by the Spanish to toil in the mines. 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. 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. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on travel to Mexico. The bodies of five men and one woman were found dumped on a roadside in Mexico's north-central state of Zacatecas, prosecutors said Tuesday. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico City. Children exercising as part of a local crime-prevention program. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. More violence this week forced schools and universities to cancel classes in Zacatecas state. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Transnational criminal organizations compete in the border area to establish narco-trafficking and human smuggling routes. / CBS/AFP. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state, which include tourist areas in:Chichen Itza,Merida,Uxmal, andValladolid. 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. Zacatecas Gov. In 2018, during his run for president, Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador offered a grand vision to remake Mexico and a radically new way of tackling the violence. State prosecutors . Caught in the middle of the fighting are residents like Guadalupe. The surge in violence over a single weekend in Mexico brought a torrent of headlines that are increasingly familiar as powerful gangs battle for control of the country: shootouts, cars set on fire, bodies lying in the street. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. 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. But for much of its recent history, residents say they were largely left alone. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. The motive, and the identity of the killers, remain unknown. 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. U.S. citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel. Witnesses said people panicked as the club's floor became awash in blood. Were still talking about this staggeringly high level. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Aguascalientes state. 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. Durango state due to crime. 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. Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. The vehicle was parked under a Christmas tree in the state capitals main plaza, according to La Jornada Zacatecas newspaper. The search for the disappeared points to Mexicos darkest secrets, The sniper rifles flowing to Mexican cartels show a decade of U.S. failure, With its leader in jail, this city cowered to his will, Violent criminal groups are eroding Mexicos authority and claiming more territory, As Mexicos security deteriorates, the power of the military grows, Essential reporting from around the world, Bodies of 10 people, beaten and murdered, dumped in front of governors office in Zacatecas, Mexico. And then came the day last month when armed men burst into her home, dragged her 15-year-old son and two of his friends outside and shot them to death, leaving Guadalupe who didnt want her full name published out of fear of the men too terrified to leave the house. Forensic personnel recover two bodies Thursday in Zacatecas. The possibility of pickpocketing is high, you need to monitor your pockets. Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. I love my home profoundly, he said. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend. Grim incidents multiplied in northern Zacatecas state late last year with bodies found hanging in public places. So far, police have a partial identification on four of the bodies. When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. In general, the city is quite safe. The bodies of 16 people were found in two different cities in Mexicos Zacatecas state on Saturday amid a turf war between two powerful drug cartels. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Shooting incidents between criminal groupshave injured or killed bystanders. Fresnillo, which sits in the center of important roads and highways, is strategically vital. Fresnillos mayor, Sal Monreal, said the National Guard hasnt done enough. Travel on Highway 5 is permissible during daylight hours. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. 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. But there is a risk of being robbed or cheated. Amlo also pledged to chair daily 6am security meetings and create a 60,000 strong "National Guard". The fear has overwhelmed us., Were Living in Hell: Inside Mexicos Most Terrified City, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/world/americas/inside-mexicos-most-terrified-city-fresnillo.html. Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Durango state. His brother, David, is governor-elect of Zacatecas. There were 18 dead, and the confrontation occurred in the community of San Juan Capistrano, in the municipality of Valparaiso, said Zacatecas state security department spokeswoman Roco Aguilar. In Guadalajara, territorial battles between criminal groups take place in tourist areas. There were 31,615 killings in the first 11 months of 2021, a decline of just 3.6% from the 32,814 in 2020. Guanajuato state due to crime and kidnapping. His government has also gone after the financing behind organized crime. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Zacatecas, once dominated by the old Zetas cartel, is being fought over by a dizzying number of cartels. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers. 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. 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. Taxi is a safe way of getting around. April 13, 2022 / 6:30 AM / CBS/AP. If separating from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location. Thats 342 more than were murdered over the same time frame last year, authorities said. Now, the colonial part of the city is a World Heritage Site, due to the Baroque architecture and other structures built during mining days. One showed possible signs of torture. 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. That began changing around 2007 and 2008 as the governments assault on the cartels led them to splinter, evolve and spread. Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos. Too scared to stay in the same house, they moved in with Guadalupes parents in a different part of town. Mr. Lpez Obrador has also doubled down on his support for the armed forces, embracing the militarization that also marked previous administrations. Then the bodies of the executed were dumped in city streets. 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 . 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. Cartel Violence in Central Mexico Taking Hold in Jerez JALISCO CARTEL / 10 MAR 2021 BY MAX RADWIN EN Violence in the town of Jerez, in Mexico's central state of Zacatecas, has surged in 2021, as criminal groups fight for control of key drug transit and production zones. Of course like any other city there is crime, but there are many, many tourists here. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Campeche state. Roco Muoz-Ledo (CNN Espaol) Una agresin contra la Polica Estatal Preventiva del estado mexicano de Zacatecas dej este mircoles cinco presuntos agresores muertos, inform en un . Those jockeying for turf in Zacatecas include the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Gulf and Northeast. These include high-traffic tourism areas of border and coastal communities, such asTijuana,Ensenada, andRosarito. Crime and violence are widespread. We are improving, we are advancing, we will not stop protecting the people.. 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. Lately, it has become a national horror show, with cadavers found dangling from bridges, stuffed into plastic bags or even tied to a cross. Oaxaca state Exercise Increased Caution. Yucatan state Exercise Normal Precautions. were found in front Monreals vilas office, ongoing turf war between the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel. 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 . Criminal activity and violence occur throughout the state. 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. Then children in town were kidnapped, disappearing without a trace. Make sure you buy tickets on tours in a licensed place and be watchful. Mugging is spread shared in Zacatecas. Zacatecas, the state Fresnillo is in, has the countrys highest murder rate, with 122 deaths in June, according to the Mexican government. 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. In many states, police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities. At least 948 people have been killed in Zacatecas over the first 10 months of this year. There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Veracruz state. Her 10-year-old daughter can barely sleep, she said, and Guadalupe keeps dreaming of her sons killing. 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. It has become a steady drumbeat of conflict that underscores the ongoing failure of President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obradors security strategy and the inability of his government to tackle the scourge. Impromptu roadblocks requiring payment to pass are common. Female, traveling alone can feel safe in the city as long as they do not show up on the streets at late night and wear modest clothes. Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs. Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. 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.
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