Crime in Mexico
Ordinarily I would refrain from writing about this issue because it has been done to death (pun intended). But, there have been a few shootings in our part of Mexico over the last few months which, not surprisingly, piqued the dramatic flair of American journalists. In all but one case, these recent incidents involved cartels protecting their territory. The one exception was a shooting in a Tulum restaurant where two German tourists got caught in the crossfire. This is pretty unusual, especially in the Riviera Maya, but, unfortunately, not a complete surprise. There is a lot money chasing a lot of drugs in Tulum and all the cartels want a piece of that action.
So let me start by stipulating that all the major cartels are active along the Caribbean coast, at least from Cancun to Tulum. And, like the Mafia of old, they do battle with each other over territory and particular vices. If you come down here with the intention of selling or buying drugs, assume you will come in to contact with the bad guys. Also, if your goal is to open a brick-and-mortar business, you will also likely be visited. But if you’re like the thousands of tourists, snowbirds or expats who come and go with nary a scratch, you are very unlikely to a see a crime committed, much less a cartel hitman.
US journalists are much like their Mexican counterparts, they love a good murder, the more grisly the better. So, when some unlucky gang member is found dangling from a highway overpass, the press is all over it. And, because most Americans are clueless as to Mexican geography, they worry about their trip to Cancun when a body is found in Acapulco, many hundreds of miles away.
My advice is not to worry about cartel-on-cartel crime. They may kill each other with abandon but have no interest in killing tourists. Remember, they are here because of you. They want a piece of the action your dollars bring to the area. Bumping off tourists is not high on their to do list. This is not to say that all of Mexico is safe, but on average, Mexican cities are as safe or safer than American cities, especially in resort areas. And here, you are much less likely to be the victim of random violence because the general population of Mexico is not armed.
If you’re coming to Mexico for the first time or finally venturing out of your all-inclusive to get a feel for the area, you are unlikely to encounter anything worse than a pick pocket. Be especially careful if you you use an ATM near where you are shopping. Don’t count your money while standing on the street corner and make sure your purse is secure. If you’re buying gas the vendor should point out that he has “zeroed out” the pump. This was a more common problem years ago. And if you’re unlucky enough to be stopped by police while driving just play dumb. In our 2+ years living here we have encountered none of these things.
Finally, as my wife used to tell the groups she brought to Mexico, “don’t check your brain at the border.”
UPDATE: The US State Department has recently issued a warning about avoiding certain places in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. I think specifically they are pointing at Tulum Beach and 5th Avenue in Playa, among others. While this may be good advice, and easy for someone like me to follow, it’s tough to take for a first or second-timer. It’s kind of like telling a midwestern tourist on their first trip to the Big Apple to stay away from Times Square. Or how about insisting that someone on their first trip to Venice keep away from San Marcos Square? Just be careful and at least half-conscious.