Alert: Travel to Mexico

When we think of Mexico, a few thoughts come to mind immediately; beautiful beaches, authentic Mexican food, great shopping bargains for tourists - and for our children, a haven for Spring Break.

However, what we may not take into consideration, when traveling to many popular destinations in Mexico, is the rampant crime, kidnapping and murder of United States citizens. One would want to think (in this day and age) that as a United States citizen, we could travel freely throughout the world without fear of being kidnapped, raped, murdered, robbed or unjustly imprisoned.

While Mexico offers many great travel bargains to popular destinations such as Cancun, U.S. citizens should be fully aware that while Cancun may offer beautiful beaches, great restaurants and super resorts, Cancun is also the backdrop for rampant (serious) crimes.

One of the main problems is that those who are sworn to protect the public (natives and tourists alike) do just the opposite. There has been an increase in police harassment, abuse and extortion in Cancun. What do you do when those who are sworn to protect you as a tourist (or your children on Spring Break) become part of the problem? Who can you turn to? What happens if you are arrested in Cancun? Who do you call? The simple fact is that even if you get to make your one phone call, you may simply be left to your own device.

One would think that with the amount of tourist dollars flowing into Cancun (by Americans) that those who manage and operate law enforcement in Cancun, would be up to the task to protect that investment. The U.S. Consular Agency in Cancun has reported that rapes occur nightly in hotel rooms. No doubt, a number of these rapes take place due to the fact that you have 120,000 teenagers running about the place during Spring Break and these rapes are fueled by alcohol. However, there have been reports of rapes perpetrated by taxi drivers and hotel workers.

Americans have died in automobile accidents, after falls from balconies, after falls into open ditches, by drowning, and in water-sports mishaps, among others. In recent years, moped rentals have become very widespread in Cancun, and the number of serious moped accidents has risen accordingly. Most operators carry no insurance, do not conduct safety checks, and often demand high fees for any damages to the moped.

In Ciudad Juarez, several U.S. citizens, including innocent bystanders, have been killed in drug-related shootings over the past three years. Some of these shootings have taken place on principal thoroughfares and outside popular restaurants and other public places, including convenience stores, a currency exchange, and a gas station (source U.S. Consular Agency).

Robbery and assaults on passengers in taxis are frequent and violent, with passengers subjected to beatings, shootings and sexual assault. U.S. citizens visiting Mexico City should avoid taking any taxi not summoned by telephone or contacted in advance at the airport. In December 1997, a U.S. citizen was murdered in a taxi robbery. Kidnapping, including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates. So-called "express" kidnappings, an attempt to get quick cash in exchange for the release of an individual, have occurred in almost all the large cities in Mexico and appear to target not only the wealthy, but also middle class persons.

Although there have been several reports of bus hijackings and robberies on "toll" roads, buses on "toll" roads have a markedly lower rate of incidents than buses (second and third class) that travel the less secure "free" highways. Many of the assaults have occurred in daylight. The U.S. Embassy also advises caution when traveling by bus in the area north of the border between the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero (south of Acapulco). Armed robberies of entire busloads of passengers have recently been reported to the U.S. Embassy.

In Mexico City, the most frequently reported crimes involving tourists are taxi robbery, armed robbery, pick-pocketing and purse snatching. In several cases, tourists have reported that men in uniforms perpetrated the crime, stopping vehicles and seeking money, or assaulting and robbing tourists walking late at night.

What's even more astounding is that the area behind the U.S. Embassy and the Zona Rosa, a restaurant/shopping area near the Embassy, are frequent sites of street crime against foreigners. Caution should be exercised when walking in these areas.

Business travelers should be aware that thefts can occur even in what appear to be secure locations. The Embassy has recently noted an increase of thefts of briefcases and computers at Mexico City's International Trade Center and at business-class hotels.

Metro (subway) robberies are becoming more frequent in Mexico City. If riding the Metro, U.S. citizens should hold valuables and belongings tightly. Avoid using Metro during busy commuting hours in the morning or afternoon. Tourists and residents alike should avoid driving alone at night anywhere in Mexico City.

Now you may be wondering just why did we mention Cozumel? Cozumel is a popular destination for many of the worlds renowned cruise lines. However, Cozumel may not be too far behind Cancun in the police corruption category. On a recent visit to Cozumel, witnesses pulled up behind cruise ship passengers in a rented jeep (on a major thoroughfare) and witnessed a shakedown by two police officers.

First, no one broke the law. The jeep carrying the cruise ship passengers was stopped for no reason whatsoever by a local police officer riding on a moped..

The police officer asked for identification and was informed that the subjects were cruise ship passengers. Out of nowhere, a high-ranking police officer appeared on the scene riding on a motorcycle.

What transpired was a “negotiation” process, in which the demand price set by the police officers was set at $400.00 USD with an ultimate settlement of $100.00.

Pictures were taken of these two police officers shaking down these American tourists and the money exchanging hands..

The police officers knew that the passengers had to get back to the ship within ninety minutes for departure and they strongly urged that the occupants of the jeep to pay the fine on the spot. No receipt, no ticket, no explanation of the so-called infraction was ever offered. They just wanted money for their own pockets. In addition, this incident was reported to police officials in Cozumel attached to the complaint was a series of photos that identified the two officers (down to their license plate numbers). The result of filing the complaint? No investigation, no questions and not even a return telephone call to the FTB concerning this incident.

The Solution:

The safest way to visit Mexico is by cruise ship, as you arrive in a secure port of call, have safety in numbers and can take advantage of recommended (safe and secure) shore excursions.

If you decide to go it alone and rent an automobile, stay on the main roadways and highways and do not take the beaten path. Many cruise lines such as RCCL and Celebrity offer excellent off road adventures that are both safe and secure.

Do not rent a moped or ATV (all terrain vehicle) as they are not safe nor reliable.

If you decide to go to the beach or go snorkeling, select a beach that offers supervision of young children and adults.

Do not venture into alleyways late at night and stay away from out of the way bars and pubs.

If you need some extra cash during your cruise get your extra cash from the ATM onboard your cruise ship, as opposed to using ATM's on land.

Do not wear valuable jewelry and by all means do not carry designer handbags.

Cancun Spring Break:

Don’t send your children (your teenagers) to Cancun! Excessive alcohol consumption, especially by Americans under the legal drinking age in the United States, is a significant problem in Cancun. The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 years of age, but even that is not uniformly enforced. Alcohol is implicated in the majority of arrests, violent crimes, accidents and deaths suffered by American tourists in Cancun.

Final Warning:

While traveling in Mexico, U.S. citizens are subject to Mexico's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Americans who commit illegal acts have no special privileges and are subject to full prosecution under the Mexican judicial system.

Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Mexico's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.

Prison conditions in Mexico can be extremely poor. In many facilities food is insufficient in both quantity and quality, and prisoners must pay for adequate nutrition from their own funds. In addition, most Mexican prisons provide poor medical care, and even prisoners with urgent medical conditions receive only a minimum of attention.

*This report has been compiled using excerpts and factual findings, as reported by the U.S. Consular Agency.

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