Mexico: Man fatally shot in Cancún hotel zone April 30

Event

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed one person outside a luxury hotel in Cancún (Quintana Roo state) on Tuesday, April 30. Police believe the victim - identified as a 31-year-old man from Monterrey (Nuevo León state) - was fatally shot while parked outside a hotel on Boulevard Kukulcan during the early morning hours (local time) on Tuesday. An investigation into the incident is ongoing and no arrests were immediately announced. 

Context

Crime rates in Quintana Roo state, particularly rates of intentional homicides, have significantly increased since 2016. The spike in violence is generally attributed to drug-cartel turf wars in the state. Intentional homicide rates in Quintana Roo rose from its lowest point in early 2016 at 5.1 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants to its peak in July 2018 at 65.1 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. 

While the hotel and tourism zone in Cancún is generally insulated from the surrounding violence, the government has increased its police presence in the area as a precaution. Crime is concentrated in the north and western districts of the city, notably zones 3, 4, and 6, which are designated by police as the most violent areas.

Advice

Individuals present in Mexico are advised to remain vigilant, refrain from sharing personal information with unknown persons, do not post information regarding your location and activities on social media platforms, and vary daily routines to limit the risk of being targeted by potential kidnappers. Keep in mind that criminals are often armed; in the event of a mugging or kidnapping, remain calm, do not offer any resistance, and obey all demands issued by your assailant(s).

Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to various parts of the country, notably the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas, as well as the northeastern border with the US.