NFT: Cancun has a major murder problem

Too

Has a huge murder problem right?

compared to the rest of Mexico. But if the murder rate spikes there it is real bad news. That whole economy is based on tourism and if the tourism dies, its not like the crime is going to get better.

over Christmas, about 15 miles south of Cancun. This is disturbing.

My wife and I have taken two trips to Quintana Roo to luxury all inclusive type resorts and have had a fantastic time on both trips. But there seems to be more and more of this surfacing in the press. I don't think I'd be comfortable going back at this point, in particular, because you're hearing about this occurring on-site at the resorts now (the prevailing wisdom used to be just stay at the resort/don't go into town and you're fine). Have also read some pretty awful stuff about people in need of medical care down there.

As of a couple weeks ago there were no visible signs of trouble on the island or at some small town they went to on the mainland.
Guess that doesn't mean much though - maybe if he had tried to wander off the resort grounds or away from the shopping district in town a guard would have turned him around.

That's exactly the point. They do what they can to make sure there are "no signs of trouble".

I'm a follower on a facebook page of one of the resorts we stayed at previously which is definitely on the higher end of the scale. There was a discussion a few weeks ago about a man being gunned down on the beach of the adjacent resort right next to the line between the two properties. The police came and cleared the body/swept the scene in very little time. Only a few people out on the beach in the early morning even saw them there. By mid-morning, the area was clean and police were gone. People that were actually at the resort were posting/following and saying that they had no idea anything had even happened. As far as anyone could tell, no guests at either resort were even questioned as to whether they had seen anything.

must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much.

I have a friend that was killed there last December. He allegedly fell 15 stories out of his hotel room. The authorities still haven't said if it was an accident or something worse. His family doesn't believe it was an accident, but its unclear why they think that. Here is an article from when it happened.
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Mexico is not a place I would choose for a vacation. better, safer options.

In comment 13860410 superspynyg said:

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must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much.

it's not that they let them but when they crack down the violence actually gets worse. You essentially have an all out cartel war for control of Sonora, the gulf coast and Mexico DF and South from there. It's bad guys killing bad guys for the most part but with so much violence there will be collateral damage and the occasional payback to govt and police forces for raids. When the government was more corrupt it actually worked better because so many were on the take that they let the cartels do as they pleased as long as they got paid.

You also have very territorial areas that hunker down and see any intrusion on their land as an attack and threat to their yield. It's an absolutely untenable situation as long as the world wide appetite for drugs stays so high.

have reservations at a resort in Riviera Maya and flying into Cancun. Going in April. Still plan on going. After reading the United refund thread won't get our money back for the flight.

In comment 13860552 mitch300 said:

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have reservations at a resort in Riviera Maya and flying into Cancun. Going in April. Still plan on going. After reading the United refund thread won't get our money back for the flight.

I'm doing the same thing in June. Not concerned one bit.

In comment 13860555 Mr. Bungle said:

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In comment 13860552 mitch300 said: Quote: have reservations at a resort in Riviera Maya and flying into Cancun. Going in April. Still plan on going. After reading the United refund thread won't get our money back for the flight. I'm doing the same thing in June. Not concerned one bit.

The U.S. government put out a warning not to go to PLaya del Carmen to college kids for Spring break. I told my wife if nothing happens to any of the college kids( most I'm sure will go off the resort) we should be okay. Do not plan of going outside of the resort at all.

In comment 13860558 mitch300 said:

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In comment 13860555 Mr. Bungle said: Quote: In comment 13860552 mitch300 said: Quote: have reservations at a resort in Riviera Maya and flying into Cancun. Going in April. Still plan on going. After reading the United refund thread won't get our money back for the flight. I'm doing the same thing in June. Not concerned one bit. The U.S. government put out a warning not to go to PLaya del Carmen to college kids for Spring break. I told my wife if nothing happens to any of the college kids( most I'm sure will go off the resort) we should be okay. Do not plan of going outside of the resort at all.

Ignore these anti-Mexico scare pieces from Rupert Murdoch's rags like the NY Post and The Sun (which are both coincidentally running this same story) and use common sense:

1. How many resorts are there all over Mexico?
2. How many U.S. tourists are going to them every week?
3. How many U.S. tourists are coming back home in coffins?

It's cartel violence. There are very, very dangerous places in Mexico that are like war zones. The swim-up bar in your resort's pool is not one of them.

Have a great time on your vacation next month.

In comment 13860410 superspynyg said:

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must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much.

Maybe the cartels *are* the Mexican government.

Is still safe, so are many many other areas. You aren't a target because the cartels don't want the US involved anymore than they already are. We unfortunately had a hand in training some of the more effective groups as we sought to strangle the influx of drugs into Mexico. Once the Colombians figured out that taking a cut and letting Mexico distribute was less conducive to extradition and being murdered this whole thing started to simmer. It exploded when the ruling party was ousted by a democratic vote. It's still Uber violent but for the most part Americans aren't targets anymore.

In comment 13860594 Joey in VA said:

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Is still safe, so are many many other areas. You aren't a target because the cartels don't want the US involved anymore than they already are. We unfortunately had a hand in training some of the more effective groups as we sought to strangle the influx of drugs into Mexico. Once the Colombians figured out that taking a cut and letting Mexico distribute was less conducive to extradition and being murdered this whole thing started to simmer. It exploded when the ruling party was ousted by a democratic vote. It's still Uber violent but for the most part Americans aren't targets anymore.

Bingo.

Playa Del Carmen / Tulum area, amazingly beautiful and safe.

Cozumel also, very safe and as beautiful as it gets in that ocean.

Some gang murder in Cancun won't stop me from enjoying lovely Mexico.

incl Jamaica and some Carib countries is when you stay close to the resort area your fine. But when you take a long walk down the beach or into areas of town it can get "local" very quickly.

In comment 13860410 superspynyg said:

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must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much.

Our murder rate is several times that of most developed countries. Think what they say about us.

In comment 13860655 Jim in Fairfax said:

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In comment 13860410 superspynyg said: Quote: must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much. Our murder rate is several times that of most developed countries. Think what they say about us.

I am not sure where you got this but that's not accurate.

In comment 13860717 Jay on the Island said:

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In comment 13860655 Jim in Fairfax said: Quote: In comment 13860410 superspynyg said: Quote: must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much. Our murder rate is several times that of most developed countries. Think what they say about us. I am not sure where you got this but that's not accurate.

I saw this from January 11th 2018 and the U.S isn't in the top 25.
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In comment 13860747 Jay on the Island said:

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I saw this from January 11th 2018 and the U.S isn't in the top 25. Link - ( New Window )

I said developed countries. That means places like a Germany, France, Japan, Canada. Not under-developed countries like Belize, Colombia and Venezuela.

In comment 13860572 Mr. Bungle said:

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In comment 13860558 mitch300 said: Quote: In comment 13860555 Mr. Bungle said: Quote: In comment 13860552 mitch300 said: Quote: have reservations at a resort in Riviera Maya and flying into Cancun. Going in April. Still plan on going. After reading the United refund thread won't get our money back for the flight. I'm doing the same thing in June. Not concerned one bit. The U.S. government put out a warning not to go to PLaya del Carmen to college kids for Spring break. I told my wife if nothing happens to any of the college kids( most I'm sure will go off the resort) we should be okay. Do not plan of going outside of the resort at all. Ignore these anti-Mexico scare pieces from Rupert Murdoch's rags like the NY Post and The Sun (which are both coincidentally running this same story) and use common sense: 1. How many resorts are there all over Mexico? 2. How many U.S. tourists are going to them every week? 3. How many U.S. tourists are coming back home in coffins? It's cartel violence. There are very, very dangerous places in Mexico that are like war zones. The swim-up bar in your resort's pool is not one of them. Have a great time on your vacation next month.

Thanks, we plan to. Staying at the Grand Luxxe riviera Mayan.

In comment 13860754 Jim in Fairfax said:

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In comment 13860747 Jay on the Island said: Quote: I saw this from January 11th 2018 and the U.S isn't in the top 25. Link - ( New Window ) I said developed countries. That means places like a Germany, France, Japan, Canada. Not under-developed countries like Belize, Colombia and Venezuela.

Well.. to be fair. Take out Chicago, NOLA, Baltimore and D.C. And I would bet we fall to the bottom of that list.

Service.

Plus the amazing climate, water and culture.

So affordable and your dollar goes far. It's my favorite vacation spot. The cartels have literally zero desire to kill you. It's bad for business, it's bad for everyone in Mexico. They usually kill outside Cancun but the independent dealers are getting purged and it's basically nobody gets hurt as a tourist if you stay in your lane and do normal things.

Should always be careful though. It is Mexico after all, but the tourist spots are so respected by all.

It's like the cartels literally make sure nobody fucks with tourists or else they get killed . Atleast in places like Cancun .

Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen the crime in basically invisible

Do your research on the region and the area.

Mexico is big country. Just like the US. Plenty of safe and unsafe areas.

In comment 13860410 superspynyg said:

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must be incredible for them to let the cartels commit so many murders and get away with so much.

The cartel just kills anyone that tries to stop them...

Maybe not the president and the highest ranking members but local officials definitely look the other way and receive kickbacks

And it is not just Mexico. Many other Latin American countries have even higher murder rates and worse corruption.

On the resort was 100% no problem, on the "strip" I felt pretty safe, but there was a lot of "action" and I wouldn't recommend late night drunken wandering. We took a day trip to Isla Mujeres, and I never felt so certain I was about to be jumped. I'm 99% sure there was a group of 4-5 guys following us. I've been in some pretty sketchy places before, so my guard was up, and we hightailed it out of there.