This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The men got out of their truck to beat them, breaking away their mirror, then they got into their vehicles and followed my neighbors to their house threatening them, she wrote. Market data provided by Factset. Reynaldo Marquez Crespo, 41, and Jancer Sergio Ramos Valdes, 33, both Cuban, face 35 years in prison on charges of alien smuggling and kidnapping. We were lucky to escape, and if our story can prevent one other person from going through what we went through, and what we almost had to go through, it would be worth it., Criminals have splintered into smaller gangs. What were seeing is a huge increase in street fighting from the plaza bosses, Texas-based security consultant Robert Almonte, an expert on Mexican cartels, told The Post. kidnapping, also spelled kidnaping, criminal offense consisting of the unlawful taking and carrying away of a person by force or fraud or the unlawful seizure and detention of a person against his will. That mainly comes down to it being a big city. 775. This story has been shared 114,982 times. Yucatn Magazine has the inside scoop on living here. Theyre also both fit and athletic, so they could make a run for it. States that have scores of 4, meaning they should be avoided completely due to crime are: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas. In September, the State Department tripled the reward for information leading to his capture from $5 million to $15 million. Although violent crime is rare (but not impossible), petty crime is common. She called back for hours, receiving no response. Then the kidnappers sent a video of the torture to his family members in Las Vegas, according to the complaint.The kidnappers contacted a second victims family in Miami and said their relative would be beaten and killed if they didnt fork over $7,000, according to court records. Telling them that their missing companion may have . But instead of launching a raid at that location, they launch a raid at some other random location. No way was I going to go back to Cordoba that felt like a trap, he said. It all started in 2017 when the local authorities carried out the arrest of two men of Russian origin, who in the United States had a criminal record implicated in drug dealing. Its also become the most feared of the Mexican drug gangs. If you are just hanging out in the Yucatan Peninsula, blending in with all the other tourists, you will be fine. A spokesperson for the State Department told USA TODAY in an email thatthe agency regularly reviews all Travel Advisories to ensure U.S. citizens have the most relevant and timely information to make the most informed decisions regarding their safety and security when traveling overseas. Thats the way they think.. Help me! We are going to check them. And this week, the group was hit with a real blow, according to Almonte: Mexicos military arrested Rosalinda Gonzlez Valencia, the wife of Cervantes. The Mexican government has failed to combat kidnapping, and police are sometimes involved in the abductions. Kidnappings fell briefly thereafter, dipping to 1,069 in 2015, but they are starting to climb again. May 2, 2021. Sevigny told Fox News Wednesday that the men handcuffed him, beat him and tortured him for 38 hours. Each of these cases may have involved more than one victim, so the total number of homicides is likely to be higher. The civil association Stop Kidnapping revealed that the number of victims associated with kidnapping decreased in February on Mexicowith a ratio of 7.9 percent, 131 victims were reported during the month.. Jennifer and Frank Massabki are telling their story to caution other Americans heading to the country. Cenote Xoch, one of the best cenotes near Merida. Forget about the Traffic Light entering Mexico. The signs were photographed by a local citizens advocacy group, which posted them to social media. There are no tourist kidnappings in Puerto Vallarta that I'm aware of. Mexico is a wonderful country, and one that is high on our list of vacation destinations. The decapitated body of Mexican businesswoman Susana Carrera was found last week after her family was unable to pay kidnappers the ransom they demanded. He said on Ciro por la maana that the rise in homicides and kidnappings over the past 80 days has shown that cartels and criminals are changing their tactics. Mexico has been a popular travel destination for American tourists throughout the pandemic because restrictions . President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a campaign aimed at persuading people to not break the law. They were robbed of everything including his American passport. Heat stroke, dehydration and gastroenteritis, better. As one who has visited numerous times and lived there for a few years, I find Mexico, its people, and culture inviting, interesting and a joy to be around. Its slogan is: Were all going to behave.. If mugged, don't attempt to resist. When they saw that the neighbors came out they got into their truck and left, she said. Save. Hundreds of people in Mexico are kidnapped every year. Among those kidnapped was American photographer John Sevigny, who was in the city of Cordoba in the state of Veracruz. Below these regions are Zihuatanejo, Ciudad Jurez, Celaya, Acmbaro, Uruapan, Solidaridad, Centro (Villahermosa), Valle de Santiago, Silao, Tecate, Salvatierra, Irapuato, Zamora. Organized crime, like any successful business, adapts to changing market conditions. I will be back to Latin America. Gomez said there are now hundreds, and possibly thousands, of gangs of organized kidnappers. The2019studydetails that the bloody incidents have created a negative image of the tourist gem, which has a population of more than 70,000 people. And Rodrigo Nieto Gomez, a research professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, told me that the skills drug dealers use in their daily lives work for kidnappings too. In 2017 the FBI investigated 116 kidnappings in Mexico. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The couple filed a police report, which MarketWatch reviewed for this story, and flew back to the U.S. for medical treatment, including an emergency surgery on Jennifers nose, which was broken during a fight with her attackers. To get the low-down on the situation we turned to a number of governments travel warnings on Mexico, especially those who called out the kidnapping threat. In Mexico, which is heading toward a pivotal presidential election in July, this has meant a surge in kidnappings over the past decade. 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The U.S. State Department recently updated Mexico's travel warning for U.S. Lamentablemente en #BajaCalifornia la incidencia del delito de #Secuestro aument 350% en los primeros 8 meses del ao, lo que coloca a la entidad en el primer lugar con mayor incremento registrado. To get toPlayas de Rosarito, most tourists travel by car on roads with stunning views of the turquoise ocean and steep cliffs. Si quieres verlo a detalle, entra en el siguiente link: https://t.co/RmB00H0C2F pic.twitter.com/gZ1Zngbesq, NATIONAL REPORT FOR 2018 TO 2021 CLICK HERE, NATIONAL COMPARATIVE REPORT 2020 TO 2021 CLICK HERE, STATE REPORT MAP 2018 AGOSTO 2021 CLICK HERE, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Find out what states in Mexico have the worst kidnapping problem, Tlaxcala festivity mocks European colonizers, USD-Mexico Peso Exchange rate today March 1st, 2023. Travel.State.Gov. They say, We havent been able to investigate because we havent had an internet connection in seven months. U.S. authorities captured Crespo in Texas while Valdes was arrested in Connecticut, where a federal magistrate judge ordered that he be held without bail pending trial. In her message the young woman calls on women to be careful. Cenotes Santa Barbara. They had both been to Mexico a handful of times over the years, but said that experience didnt help them avoid this incident. While celebrating his 40th birthday, Flix worries about his associates' loyalty and confronts Pacho. Mexico kidnap: The inside story. Earlier this year, Americans were warned to "avoid travel to Mexico" after recent security incidents in tourist destinations like Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. And if there are innocent bystanders, too bad. The men commanded the couple to remove all of their jewelry and blindfolded Frank as the assailants drove them to a second location. Similarly, it was announced that in February the number of detainees for this crime increased, with 120 people, while in January there were 35 alleged perpetrators of kidnapping. So among stories of drug cartels, kidnappings, and more, it might get you wonderingis Merida, Mexico safe? The report presented on Monday warned thatSalamanca and Tecomncomplete the list of the top five violent cities. Surprisingly, the data showed that Veracruz cut homicides by 20 percent a statistic that Garcia praised. He covers organized crime, immigration, farm policy, and anything in between. Its slogan is: Were all going to behave., MEXICAN BUSINESSWOMAN DECAPITATED AFTER FAMILY WOULDNT PAY RANSOM, REPORTS SAY. Instead, many of these homicides are drug-related and criminal groups tend to stay away from tourists because crimes against them draw more media attention, he said. What I learned after being robbed at gunpoint in Mexico, It broke me: Everyone says you need power of attorney, but nobody tells you how hard it is to use. According to local news reports, a note was left with the body saying she was killed because her husband 'didn't want to pay' the ransom. (Courtesy of John Sevigny). Attempted kidnapping of a young woman in Merida thwarted, CDC: Cruise Ships May Begin Outside the US Starting in July. This prompted them to go ahead and contact local authorities. A third victim escaped the Merida hideout and alerted Mexican authorities, who freed an unknown number of captives. Both men face charges of conspiring to induce aliens to come to the United States and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. While its unclear whether the high-profile arrest will lead to the Jalisco Cartels retreat, the rival Gulf Cartel also faces challenges with the recent death of their leader, Ariel (El Tigre) Trevino Pena, who was killed by the Mexican army in a shootout in Matamoros in October. Protesters join friends and family members of the 43 missing students of Ayotzinapa, Mexico, on the third year of their disappearance during marches held throughout 2017 in Mexico City. Among those killed were Rhonita Maria Miller, 30, and her four children Howard, 12, Krystal 10, and 8-month-old babies Titus and Tiana. Although Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates globally, when it comes to kidnapping and mugging, Cancn is generally safe.Wealthy persons who travel to locations where police and security services are not present can be targets. Beginning around 2006, criminal groups began to use kidnappings and the ransom money they got from desperate families to help fund those activities, according to Vctor Manuel Snchez Valds, a research professor at the Autonomous University of Coahuila, Mexico. The U.S Depart of State has updated its Mexico travel advisory and has decided to keep Mexico at Level Three: Reconsider Travel. Im in trouble, he pleaded, crying over the phone. Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico. Two of the . Days before, an armed attack against police officers occurred in the city. Fifty-one of the kidnappings in Veracruz happened in the month January, Alto al Secuestro reported. Isabel Miranda de Wallace, president of the Alto al Secuestro organization, reported that only 82 criminal events were recorded during the month of August. For a full list of destinations, look at the State Departments website. Thats where the foreigners, visiting the Malquerida Bar last month, had the bad luck of getting caught in cartel crossfire. "Violent crimesuch as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robberyis widespread and common in Mexico," warns the State Department. She climbed 20 feet up a tree and hid among the branches for several hours before Frank returned with officials later. Its a trend that experts refer to as the democratization of kidnapping. News and information from Mexico\'s Yucatn Peninsula, MEL unlocks private studios where Mrida artists work, Parque Tho: Mrida unveils plans for 20-acre park in Altabrisa, 70 days after fire, no progress restoring Teatro Pen Contreras. 17 CIA tips on how to think like a spy and stay safe while on vacation, Gun violence, safety concerns are keeping travelers away, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I feel extremely safe here, said a Dutch expatriate, who just closed on a home in the area. Jennifer said she still has nightmares about the couples ordeal. Mexican cities remain top tourist destinations. The U.S. housing market is crumbling under the weight of higher mortgage rates and rock-bottom affordability: Prices fell the most in these U.S. states. For many, this municipality is much more interesting and refined thanTijuana, which is why during the holidays a large number of young Americans come attracted by good seafood and lively nightlife. @WallaceIsabel @Jaime_BonillaV @FGEBC @elvigia pic.twitter.com/QRhaovPKb7. Desperate to get their sons back, the Ramirez and Rivera families made a payment to the kidnappers. The municipality with the most kidnappings is in Benito Jurez, Quintana Roo, The best jeans in Mexico? But for many criminal groups, the risks inherent in these kidnappings the publicity and police attention they attracted often werent enough to justify the reward. The death of a Mexican businesswoman snatched by sicarios while picking up her child at a friends home and whose body was found decapitated inside a black bag rattled heightened fears in the state of Veracruz that has been plagued by growing violence. 13 Feb. 2020. Abducting people and demanding ransom money is one way to do that. Nearly 1,200 kidnappings occurred in Mexico last year. Get me his father, the voice demanded. In 2017 the FBI investigated 116 kidnappings in Mexico. Google Pay. I moved around by bus, alone, and felt extremely safe. The risk is higher in some locales than others. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Later, the victim said that a kidnapper told the group that he had raped the wives of other victims he had previously kidnapped as a form of payment, according to court records. There he spoke with a federal agent, who said they could not investigate unless he made a report with local authorities in Cordoba. Zero kidnappings in Yucatan. According to the U.S. Department of State, 66 of these were U.S. citizens, 14 of these cases involved Legal Permanent Residents. According to the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice AC, the rearrangement and the dispute of the cartels by the areas of the state, brought the municipality of Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, to first place in the list of the most violent sites in Mexico. You can also contribute via. The number of victims of kidnapping in Mexico decreased by 10.5% per month in February, when 110 cases were registered compared to 123 in January 2021, the NGO Alto al Secuestro reported on Monday. A police cordon marks the perimeter of the site where a forensic team and judicial authorities work in unmarked graves where skulls were found, on the outskirts of Veracruz, Mexico March 16, 2017. The month of August of this year registered a decrease of 5.7 percent in the crime of kidnapping compared to the same period of 2019, as reported by Stop Kidnapping. In two articles for Medium, the photographer relates how on Jan. 8, while staying with a friend in Cordoba, 16 men armed with military-grade weapons walked into the apartment, beat him up and dragged him away. Some sources claim that the local government is suppressing the extent of the violence in an attempt to protect the tourist industry. 50. In Mexico, it is common for police officers to be directly involved in crime, any crime, said Gomez. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. CANCUN CLUB SHOOTING LEAVES 5 DEAD, 5 WOUNDED, AUTHORITIES SAY. They tied her up and went to look for Frank and, while they were gone, she was able to free herself and make a run for it. A report by Mexican news outlet La Reforma, from earlier this year, indicated that at least five cartels are now operating in the Riviera Maya and reports of violent crime in Tulum alone had gone . The couple rented a car from an American company in Mexico City and had been on the road for about an hour when another vehicle rear-ended them. The U.S. State Department issued an updated Travel Advisory Wednesday for U.S. travelers visiting Mexico, including new state-level advice and information on "kidnapping . We can't provide you with security and protection. 8. News reports indicate that the increase in kidnappings in Mexico since 2005 is largely fueled by the drug trade and a surge in the number of criminal gangs. 2018 promises to be one of the most violent years on record in Mexico. Basically, if you know how to run a drug smuggling operation, you know and own 90 percent of what you need to be a secuestrador [kidnapper], he told me. In 2016, there were 771 kidnapping cases in the country involving people connected to the U.S., according to the OSAC, including citizens, legal permanent residents and other cases in which an extortion call was made to the U.S. and police (or former law enforcement officials) have been implicated in many of these incidents. CAN TACOS BE HEALTHY should tacos be considered Junk food or health food? And then there is the Sinaloa Cartel. Mexico is experiencing a combination of conditions that collectively degrade the security environment in certain areas, the report said. To put things in perspective, consider that the murder rate in Mexico's Yucatan State is 2 per 100,000. Authorities believe drug cartels are choosing express kidnappings as a way to get high volume . That said, the risk of kidnapping, especially for the foreign business person or tourist who is perceived to be wealthy exists. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a campaign aimed at persuading people to not break the law. Kidnappings reached their highest levels ever in Mexico last year, with 1,698 kidnappings in 2013, according to the Mexican government. Travel safety tips:17 CIA tips on how to think like a spy and stay safe while on vacation, Not everyone wants to come to the US:Gun violence, safety concerns are keeping travelers away. He was able to free himself while the kidnappers were distracted with Jennifer, who attacked one of the men when he attempted to rape her unsuccessfully. Walt and his team plan retaliatory kidnappings. All the violence comes at a time when Mexico is trying to bolster its tourism sector, which accounts for 8.5 percent of the countrys gross domestic product. best THINGS TO DO IN MERIDA MEXICO. In 2015, they shot down a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. Like most big cities, organised crime occurs. According to the National Index of Violence, Playas de Rosarito (Baja California) obtained 104 points;Manzanillo (Colima) 87;Tijuana (Baja California) 86;Salamanca (Guanajuato) 82 and Tecomn (Colima) 69 points. As a result, criminal groups, beginning in the early 2000s, shifted their efforts toward the middle and lower classes. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all.