Just heard on the radio that authorities shot and killed the Quintana Roo leader of the Zetas, Bernardo González Castillo(aka "El Memín"). He was in Paraiso Maya, in Region 107. Couldnt get more details, yet...
Wow can't wait to hear more details on that one! They also got one of the founders of the Zetas recently. Found him in Oaxaca: Mexico announces capture of one of the founders of Los Zetas - CNN.com
Is this a good thing or does it a mean that the Zetas will be seeking revenge leading to more viloence?
They always claim they will get even but it usually doesn't happen. I am surprised at the stupidity of publishing the name of the person who gave them the information! (one of the female cops arrested a few days ago.) I wouldn't cosign a life insurance policy for her now. She is in jail--the same jail that the other Zetas are in and has been getting so much bad publicity lately as to what really goes on in there.
I guess the question that comes about when you hear this news reports "is is safe for international travelers that do not know the areas to travel to Cancun?" Some of these news reports have effected friends of mine and caused them not to travel to Cancun because of the violence. I have been going to Cancun resorts for the last 20 years and have never had a problem. We have been told by locals that if you are in the Hotel zone/resort areas that there are no problems but would be nice to be reassured by some one from this forum that doesn't have a financial interest.
Comanche, to me the reality is in the link posted by Gringation. 34,600 drug related murders since Dec. 2006. This is largely bad guys killing bad guys. The scary thing is that, although this is a big country, if 34,600 bad guys are no longer with us, how many are still out there. Once the facts come out on these deaths, and they alwasys seem to, it is a criminal on criminal crime. Come down. Feel safe. Make good decisions. Don't do drugs. I think it is that simple.
Comanche: I agree with everything TJ said. This is a "bad guy" issue. For people like me who aren't involved in drugs, there's really no problem. Cancun has its issues like any city (and you'll see them on this board from time to time), but from all the statistics I've seen it's as safe or safer than American cities of the same size.
Zeta klilled I agree with the above posts. The Hotel Zone is quite safe. Police presence is always here to let the general population visiting Cancun that hey are always on their guard. I raised my children here (I came to live in Cancun 12 years ago), live by myself part time and and I have never NOT felt safe. I don't go where I don't belong...it's as simple as that. Tourists are afraid to come to Cancun but I wouldn't be walking around in certain areas of the US after dark...you can be out on the streets till 3am without worry! No matter where you go, you have to keep your eyes open, not get too intoxicated and realize that you're visiting a foreign country....you're not in Kansas anymore!
This'll be the same policewoman who had before and after videos on her phone of the guy who got his head hacked off? I've seen the press before when they give innocent witnesses names and place of work before, and that is outrageous. In this particular case though I'll use the cliche 'live by the sword die by the sword'. When it comes to Police who use their authority to help the drug gangs then I couldnt think of a more fitting punishment than to be in a prison full of underlings of the guy she just grassed up.
