If you’re the victim of a crime and wish to report the incident, you should do so immediately to the nearest branch of the state prosecutor’s office (Agencia del Ministerio Público). Monitor local media and inform trusted contacts of your travel plans. You should research your destination thoroughly and only travel during daylight hours when possible. Many Mexican and foreign businesses choose to hire private security. CrimeĬrime and violence are serious problems in Mexico and the security situation can pose a risk for foreigners. In early 2020, two butterfly activists were found dead in the Monarch butterfly reserve in Michoacán. There have also been recent reports of clashes between cartels and local police in Michoacán and Colima.
Chiapas has also seen an increase in conflict between vigilante groups and the local interim government. If you’re driving in these states, travel during daylight hours and use toll roads where possible, although you may still encounter disruptions.ĭrug-related violence is a problem in Guerrero, Jalisco and Nayarit. Illegal roadblocks have been reported more frequently, particularly in the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Petty crime is also common throughout the state. There have been reports of armed robbery on public transport and vehicle theft on the highway. You should take care when travelling through the state, as well as outside of tourist areas. Criminal activity is also a problem in the State of Mexico (Estado de México). On 6th January 2022, Mexican authorities discovered the bodies of ten people in a vehicle left in front of the main square in the city of Zacatecas, north-west of Mexico City. You should be extra vigilant in Guanajuato and surrounding areas. The majority of attacks have been attributed to organised crime. On 1st July 2020, 26 people were killed in the city of Irapuato. There have been reports of increased security incidents and drug-related violence in the state of Guanajuato. Illegal roadblocks have also been reported more frequently. There has been a recent increase in violence in the State of Veracruz, including the city of Veracruz. There have been reports of increased security incidents in the states of Tabasco and Veracruz.
Travel during daylight hours when possible, inform relatives or friends of your travel plans and use reputable hotels only. You should take care when travelling to Ciudad Juarez or other cities in Northern States. You should take extra care when travelling to these areas. There has been a rise in drug-related crime in Baja California Sur, including Los Cabos. You should take precautions in the state of Baja California, including Tijuana. You should take extreme care outside tourist areas in all of these states. Armed clashes between security forces and drug groups can occur at any time without warning. Drug-related violence is a particular problem in the northern states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Sinaloa and Durango. Many fatalities are suspected gang members killed in turf wars between the different organisations that compete for control of trafficking routes into the US.
Due to an increase in violent crime, you should be extra vigilant in Acapulco and surrounding areas. If possible, travel by air if you are visiting a major tourist destination in Guerrero. There have been several instances of armed crime both within and outside tourist areas in Acapulco. If you are visiting any of these areas, you should monitor local advice, remain vigilant and follow the advice of the local authorities and your tour operator. While tourists have not been the target, anyone in the vicinity of an incident could be affected. There is currently an increased police presence in the Cancun area, including in the hotel zone. Two foreign tourists were killed in Tulum, more tourists were injured during a shoot out in Puerto Morelos, and most recently there was a shooting in a hotel in Playa del Carmen in locations popular with tourists. However, since the beginning of 2021, there have been several clashes between rival criminal gangs in popular tourist destinations in Cancun and surrounding areas. The Mexican government makes efforts to protect major tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta. Outbursts of politically-motivated violence can occur across the country, with a recent increase in the states of Guerrero and Mexico City. Convictions carry sentences of up to 25 years. Make sure you research your destination thoroughly. The violence is more heavily concentrated in some areas, although few areas are totally immune. Drug-related violence in Mexico has increased over recent years. Do not become involved with drugs of any kind.