As students start to get ready for Spring Break, The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a warning to stay away from Mexico.
This warning comes shortly after four Americans in Matamoros were kidnapped a few weeks ago. Two of the four victims were murdered in the Mexican town and the other two were released.
The Mexican Drug Cartel claimed responsibility for the attack and issued an apology later. The cartel gunmen were accused for being undisciplined and for putting the lives of innocent at risk in a letter signed by the Scorpions Group (part of the Gulf Cartel).
Apart from this, a man from Texas has lodged a complaint stating that his wife and two other women have been missing ever since they crossed the Mexican border to put up clothes for sale at a street market.
PBS Director Steven McCraw issued a statement that said drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now. He also added that they have a duty to inform the public about safety, travel risks and threats. He cautioned people to avoid travel to Mexico at this time based on the volatile nature of cartel activity and the violence being seen there.
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Drug war in Mexico
Mexico has been a long-time supplier of drugs and alcohol to its neighboring country USA. Even though Mexico was illegally supplying alcohol to the U.S. from the 1920’s, it was only from the 1960’s that they started smuggling in drugs as well.
A famous drug lord in the 1980’s was Pablo Escobar who was the leader of Medellin Cartel of Columbian origin. He was also known as the King of Cocaine and was one of the wealthiest criminals to have ever existed with a net worth of $30 billion at the time of his death in 1993.
The ongoing asymmetric low-intensity struggle between the Mexican government and numerous drug trafficking syndicates is known as the Mexican drug war and is the Mexican front in the worldwide war on drugs, which is being directed by the U.S. federal government. Reduced drug-related violence was the primary goal of the administration when the Mexican military started to intervene in 2006. According to the Mexican government, eliminating the cartels and obstructing drug demand, along with American agents, is their top priority.
Spring Break in Mexico
Spring Break takes place during early Spring around the time of Easter and Mexico is known to be a popular destination for the same. Apart from the white sand beaches and deep blue seas, a major factor that allures students to Mexico is the availability of cheap liquor.
Some of the most sought-after spring break destinations in Mexico are Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Acapulco. Some of these places are under “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To” advisories currently.
