Mazatlan - Canadian tourist hit by AK47

[HappyInVan]

Just in today.

"She said her parents were walking in a busy shopping area about four blocks from their hotel when the shooting started.

News reports out of Mazatlan say an AK-47 was used in the targeted hit which killed a 25-year-old gangster. A local woman was also injured in the crossfire. More than 50 shell casings littered the crime scene."


Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Penticton+crossfire+Mazatlan+gangland+execution/4128645/story.html#ixzz1BSkZiimM

[DFD1]

This sort of thing is killing the cruise business to Mexico. It is also hurting hotel and tour business all over the country.

We have been traveling to Mexico for 40 years, but not any more.

[kazu]

Just in today.

"She said her parents were walking in a busy shopping area about four blocks from their hotel when the shooting started.

News reports out of Mazatlan say an AK-47 was used in the targeted hit which killed a 25-year-old gangster. A local woman was also injured in the crossfire. More than 50 shell casings littered the crime scene."



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Penticton+crossfire+Mazatlan+gangland+execution/4128645/story.html#ixzz1BSkZiimM



Thanks for the info. glad they are ok. What a shame. Drugs and gangs are ruining Mexico and it's tourist business.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the link. Sad all this is going on in Mexico -- definitely is hurting tourism there.

[bepsf]

Yep - Scotty is trying to convince me to go take a Mexico cruise next spring, but I have zero desire...

[Arwen]

And yet, most of us believe that we, the tourists will always be safe in Mexico, despite drug gang violence. I have always enjoyed Mexico cruises in the past, but no more...a lot has to do with my political leanings and my pride of being an American. However, it was only a matter of time before drug cartel violence would injure a tourist. Heck, we have had spill over Mexican border violence down by the Arizona border with a border patrol officer killed by a drugger recently and this violence has been going on for a while now. Or how about the violence that has closed off part of Federal public land in Arizona due to the drug cartel mule runners and drug violence taking it over? (signs posted to stay out of the area due to danger)!!!!!! Yeah, folks it is here. I will get off of my soapbox now.

[pms4104]

Looking at a full transit of the Canal and leaning seriously to Princess ... their itineraries call on, at most, Cabo. And some have no stops in Mexico. I would prefer Princess' several sea days over the three or four Mexican Riviera ports on HAL's itineraries. Well, and the price is significantly lower as well ... but, I would be happy to pay HAL's fare if not for the several stops in Mexico.

[PC168]

Also on my way to work this morning, heard the radio talking about
Canadian tourist alleges rape by Mexico police in Playa del Carmen

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/18/16933246.html

Very sad.

[DFD1]

The mess in Mexico is spilling over into the U.S. in lots of ways.....border violence, tons of new illegal drugs....AND, it's killing jobs in and around the ports of Southern California.

There was an article just this week about jobs being lost in Los Angeles, San Diego and other California ports because the number of cruise ships using those ports in falling like a rock.

Just think of the amount of money generated for the local economies when a cruise ship with 2,000 or 3,000 passengers comes through the port every week, 52 weeks a year.

The numbers are enormous.

[bepsf]

The mess in Mexico is spilling over into the U.S. in lots of ways.....border violence, tons of new illegal drugs....

Yet the solution is so simple: Recognize that the "War on Drugs" has been a complete and utter failure, Legalize Drugs and tax them.

Alcohol manufacturers and distributors don't shoot one another on the streets anymore - That type of violence ended immediately after Prohibition was repealed...
...so there's no reason to believe that it would be any different w/ drugs.

(And we could all go back to our regularly scheduled Mexican cruises)
;)

[blackroze]

Yet the solution is so simple: Recognize that the "War on Drugs" has been a complete and utter failure, Legalize Drugs and tax them.

Alcohol manufacturers and distributors don't shoot one another on the streets anymore - That type of violence ended immediately after Prohibition was repealed...
...so there's no reason to believe that it would be any different w/ drugs.

(And we could all go back to our regularly scheduled Mexican cruises)
;)

I agree 100%. Most drugs these days are not even as strong as the crap our own doctors shove down our throats! We are killing ourselves with illegal, and legal drugs. America needs to wake up!!:eek:

[pinotage]

Ok, there are probably a whole lot of us booked on a mexico cruise that don't plan on getting off the ship. Until this mess spills over on to the ship itself (pirates?)... :eek:

[cruiseapril]

Perhaps the cruise lines will consider changing their Panama Canal Transit itineraries for 2013? As noted above, one line has dropped many of their Mexican port stops.

We would enjoy a transit which stops in both Aruba and Curacao and drops all Mexican stops except Cabo San Lucas. Does this sound possible?

[bepsf]

Perhaps the cruise lines will consider changing their Panama Canal Transit itineraries for 2013? As noted above, one line has dropped many of their Mexican port stops.

We would enjoy a transit which stops in both Aruba and Curacao and drops all Mexican stops except Cabo San Lucas. Does this sound possible?

Completely agree - Seems the vast majority of HAL itineraries have a stop in either Aruba or Cartagena, then the canal, then 6-8 stops up Mexico...

...would rather see more Caribbean and Central & South America on either side of the canal with one or two stops in Mexico.

[Typhoon1]

Mazatlan was marginal ten years ago.

Today, I wouldn't even leave the ship. It's just a matter of time before the cruise lines abandon Mazatlan completely.

[SwissMyst]

Not sure it is correct to label this the "Mexican mess" when most of the illegal drug customers live in the US. "Legal" pot in California moved all the Mexican drug lords into our National Forests and we now have shootouts on the streets too.

The biggest problem is the huge appetite for drugs in the US. A sure sign of a thriving civilization with discretionary cash to literally burn.:( Grow your own in California did not take the bite out of drug lord crimes. Be warned if your state is trying to pass legal pot too.

You have to make the drug lords truly illegal with ways to to enforce it if you really think legal pot will reduce violent crime. It increased it in California. Try and teach a class when 50% of your high school students test positive for marijuana.

We got off our tracks somewhere, so any drug crime in Mexico only exists because of the money made in the US to the north. And it is a shame the lovely Mexican Riviera ports are now looking as sinister as the Caribbean. Recently on the Panama trip and we would do it all again - loved all of the Mexican ports and plenty of low-key surprises with the more off the beaten path ones the Statendam visited: Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas particularly.

[pmd98052]

Pretty bizarre comments given violence in many US cities are worse with respect to violent crime! What are we going to do - not visit major US cities due to the risk of getting shot? Its going to get pretty limiting.

I grew up with IRA bombings and violence in England as a child/teenager/young adullt - It feels like many in the US are fearful of everything - despite the fact that their own cities are violent. I'm a US citizen now and I find this "fear" that many have sad.

[localady]

I was in Mazatlan last week and visited the central Market (which is amazing) as well as a restaurant on the outskirts of town. At no time did I feel alarmed, though being a City girl, I am always cautious.

I would have no fear going back next week either. I believe we have as much or more crime in the area surrounding Sacramento than they do in Mazatlan. Unfortunately, crimes occur, and I am so sorry for that family, but that tragedy could have happened here as well.

A child on a cruise was killed in crossfire in St Thomas, have not heard of one ship pulling out.

My point is to be vigilient at all times when traveling, but don't give up on all of Mexico.......

[DFD1]

The observations here about crime in American cities as well as the relative safety of Mexican ports are surely correct.

However, the publicity the Mexican crimes are receiving nevertheless has an enormously negative effect on vacationers planning future cruises.

It is a simple fact that the cruise demand for Mexico is falling dramatically, costing American jobs.

That there is a drug demand in the United States or that there is crime in our major cities has nothing to do with the fact that fewer people are vacationing in Mexico.

IMO

[Ine]

I was in Mazatlan last week and visited the central Market (which is amazing) as well as a restaurant on the outskirts of town. At no time did I feel alarmed, though being a City girl, I am always cautious.

I would have no fear going back next week either. I believe we have as much or more crime in the area surrounding Sacramento than they do in Mazatlan. Unfortunately, crimes occur, and I am so sorry for that family, but that tragedy could have happened here as well.

A child on a cruise was killed in crossfire in St Thomas, have not heard of one ship pulling out.

My point is to be vigilient at all times when traveling, but don't give up on all of Mexico.......

I also feel sorry for that lady involved in that shooting, but it could indeed have happened in many places in the world. It is was very bad luck.
Most of the shootings and killings in Mexico are drugs-related and certainly not against tourists. Shootings like this have happened lso in the USA, Europa and Canada, but with less publicity.
As I pointed out many times in this board we are in PVR during winter months, driving around in our car, eat and shop local and enjoying it all the time. With us thousands of "snowbirds"from Canada and the USA, incl. many that stay here year round.
Not all of Mexico is unsafe, however one has to be alert in any place in the world nowadays.

[SwissMyst]

Mazatlan was marginal ten years ago.

Today, I wouldn't even leave the ship. It's just a matter of time before the cruise lines abandon Mazatlan completely.

The Centro Historico of Mazatlan has been very much cleaned up. It is a stunning little jewel. The beautiful opera house now has international music festivals and its museum shows what it looked like before this major historic restoration took place in this old part of town.

I agree, 10 years ago it was a pit of little redeeming virtue. But it would be a shame to have them not get tourism benefit from their very loving historic restoration of this town. I am glad we got to see it before the ships pull out completely. Sad. Sad, Sad,:(

[CowPrincess]

>SNIP<
I agree, 10 years ago it was a pit of little redeeming virtue. But it would be a shame to have them not get tourism benefit from their very loving historic restoration of this town. I am glad we got to see it before the ships pull out completely. Sad. Sad, Sad,:(

We are a bit concerned about the drug violence, but intend to do our best to be "street smart" while in Mexico. Like you, we are very glad we've got our upcoming cruise booked, as it does seem that cruising to the Mexican Riviera is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

[pmd98052]

We are a bit concerned about the drug violence, but intend to do our best to be "street smart" while in Mexico

Yup, you need to be smart when travelling anywhere. London, Paris, Rome, New York City etc - all require big time street smarts. Yet you don't see the press generating these crazy "FUD" stories over them - Its pretty odd.

[SwissMyst]

We are all missing the real story here. They were hit by an AK47 - an assault rifle used in a downtown commercial area. This was not just someone's hand gun they had for personal protection that went off but the firearm du jour in Mazatlan is an AK47. Not that we don't know drug lords are heavily armed, but this is hardly fair play in a shopping center shoot out, no matter where it is located. Damn! So while we can thank the Mexicans for the drug mess, we can also thank the Russians for the massive international arms trade. Both these bad actors have money to burn and they are now out there ....cruisin!

[CowPrincess]

Yup, you need to be smart when travelling anywhere. London, Paris, Rome, New York City etc - all require big time street smarts. Yet you don't see the press generating these crazy "FUD" stories over them - Its pretty odd.

Thanks for the reminder. We also intend to be "street smart" (to the best of our abilities) in our airport city, and our embarkation city.

[scm1848]

We have spent 3 weeks every year for the past decade in Zihuatanejo, staying in a small typical Mexican hotel near the downtown area. We walk all over the central area during the day and up until about 10 or 11 p.m. at night, then take taxis, just as we would in any city in the world. We have formed lasting friendships with our gringo and Mexican friends that are priceless. AT NO TIME, do we feel threatened by the drug cartels. This past Monday, a friend of ours had a necklace ripped from her neck on a fairly isolated beach, the same as could happen anywhere in the world. Crime is a relative issue. Compare the US's murder rates with the rest of the world. Please continue to visit Mexico and enjoy her lovely people and scenery and hospitality.

[V and S]

We cruised HAL to Mexico in December, our second time, loved every port, and will do it again. We all have to be aware wherever we are; the world has changed.

Our suburban middle- to upper middle-class Northern California town has a shooting or serious mugging nearly every day now...

[sapper1]

I just listened to an interview the CBC aired with the gentleman in question this morning and he still maintains that Mexico is a wonderful place to vacation and he intends to go back.
It was mentioned that he had a big fruit basket from the chief of police in his hospital room and the tourism dept. has a lady stationed at the hospital to make sure he has everything he needs.



This is not meant as a comment, one way or the other---just passing on what I heard an hour ago.

[mexico5]

I just listened to an interview the CBC aired with the gentleman in question this morning and he still maintains that Mexico is a wonderful place to vacation and he intends to go back.
It was mentioned that he had a big fruit basket from the chief of police in his hospital room and the tourism dept. has a lady stationed at the hospital to make sure he has everything he needs.



This is not meant as a comment, one way or the other---just passing on what I heard an hour ago.

Besides the fruit basket he also has an armed guard, as he is now a witness in a Mexican shooting!

I will be going to the Mayan Riviera in a few months as we don't have many options from out west, but truth be told I would rather get gunned down in my own city than to be murdered in Mexico where the justice system is lacking and they might not be able to find my body!:eek:

[RD64]

I am not sure if it is the same in the United States, but Canadian tourists seem to be victims quite often. Yet canadian tourists are going there in droves - up about 15% from last year. Sadly Canadians (yes I am Canadian) are lured by the extremely low prices. I have no desire to go there, and would not even consider a Western caribbean cruise let alone a Mexican Riviera cruise.

[mexico5]

I am not sure if it is the same in the United States, but Canadian tourists seem to be victims quite often. Yet canadian tourists are going there in droves - up about 15% from last year. Sadly Canadians (yes I am Canadian) are lured by the extremely low prices. I have no desire to go there, and would not even consider a Western caribbean cruise let alone a Mexican Riviera cruise.

You are right...Canadians are flocking there even more now! Not sure where you live, but we seem to only have 3 options for All Inclusives from Calgary that are non stop and have reasonable pricing! Cuba, Mexico and Dominican...it is quite a cheap vacation (expecially if you are a drinker!)...I finished a Mexican Riviera Hal cruise in December and we had a good time, but I sure don't pretend to think that it's the same type of crime as where I live! I have tried boycotting Mexico but I can't...it has everything! I have a love/hate relationship with Mexico...kind of like the Zoo....

[SadieN]

We are all missing the real story here. They were hit by an AK47 - an assault rifle used in a downtown commercial area. This was not just someone's hand gun they had for personal protection that went off but the firearm du jour in Mazatlan is an AK47. Not that we don't know drug lords are heavily armed, but this is hardly fair play in a shopping center shoot out, no matter where it is located. Damn! So while we can thank the Mexicans for the drug mess, we can also thank the Russians for the massive international arms trade. Both these bad actors have money to burn and they are now out there ....cruisin!


(Some of the ways) guns are coming into Mexico are thru the same routes that drugs are getting into the US. It is much easier to obtain guns in the US than in Mexico.

[Philip217]

This headline comes from the Canadian Broadcasting Company.
They must know something about their own country.
The link to the entire story is below.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver crime among worst in North America

B.C. Progress Board says poverty in the province also worst
Last Updated: Thursday, December 16, 2010 | 4:44 PM PT .CBC News

A new report says that although the number of crimes in B.C. has fallen sharply over the past decade, Vancouver still has one of the highest crime rates on the continent.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/12/16/bc-progress-board-report-crime-poverty.html#ixzz1BZhhXdst
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And another story from the Vancourier Newspaper:


Cops combed bullet-riddled Vancouver crime scene for days
VPD’s CSI-style identification unit includes 24 officers


Read more: http://www.vancourier.com/Cops+combed+bullet+riddled+Vancouver+crime+scene+d ays/4004521/story.html#ixzz1BZk0KoAp

I very strongly suggest not cruising into Vancouver anytime soon.
Obviously a very dangerous place.

[localady]

This headline comes from the Canadian Broadcasting Company.
They must know something about their own country.
The link to the entire story is below.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver crime among worst in North America

B.C. Progress Board says poverty in the province also worst
Last Updated: Thursday, December 16, 2010 | 4:44 PM PT .CBC News

A new report says that although the number of crimes in B.C. has fallen sharply over the past decade, Vancouver still has one of the highest crime rates on the continent.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/12/16/bc-progress-board-report-crime-poverty.html#ixzz1BZhhXdst

Exactly Phillip!!
Folks, I was there last week and if I could be, I'd be there today. We have as much or more violence in many cities across the US and Canada. I felt no less safe in Mazatlan than I did in San Francisco or LA.......

[CowPrincess]

In many ways it is unfortunate that Mexico is not of critical importance as a secure energy supply for the US.

[mexico5]

Exactly Phillip!!
Folks, I was there last week and if I could be, I'd be there today. We have as much or more violence in many cities across the US and Canada. I felt no less safe in Mazatlan than I did in San Francisco or LA.......

Yes, the old "just as much crime at home" statement BUT while travelling or living in Canada or the US I tend to somewhat (I said somewhat) know the "bad areas" to avoid...every city has them including mine. While in Mexico I am not as aware of these areas since I only go once a year and have my tourist blinders on!

[SG81]

there's no way i'd go back to mexico. bad drinking water and out of control violence are not my thing

[lorekauf]

Yes, the old "just as much crime at home" statement BUT while travelling or living in Canada or the US I tend to somewhat (I said somewhat) know the "bad areas" to avoid...every city has them including mine. While in Mexico I am not as aware of these areas since I only go once a year and have my tourist blinders on!
Plenty of shootings have taken place in what shouldn't be bad areas in Calgary. The gangs are taking over and innocent people are getting hurt or killed. I'm not the least bit worried about going to Mexico in a few weeks here. I will not change anything I normally do....which would not be considered risky in any way. I think if your number is up....it's up. This is my opinion only.

[CowPrincess]

Plenty of shootings have taken place in what shouldn't be bad areas in Calgary. The gangs are taking over and innocent people are getting hurt or killed. I'm not the least bit worried about going to Mexico in a few weeks here. I will not change anything I normally do....which would not be considered risky in any way. I think if your number is up....it's up. This is my opinion only.

You are absolutely right about the violence in cities extending beyond the "bad" areas. Where we have our house in town was the scene of a shoot-up a couple of years ago and people are still finding stray bullets in their house exteriors. And it is a nice neighbourhood.

Any Canadians remember the poor cable installer in Vancouver (or maybe Surrey) who got killed while working because he was working in a gang member's place, and rivals came in and gunned down everyone?

[Arwen]

[quote=bepsf;27570658]Yet the solution is so simple: Recognize that the "War on Drugs" has been a complete and utter failure, Legalize Drugs and tax them.

Alcohol manufacturers and distributors don't shoot one another on the streets anymore - That type of violence ended immediately after Prohibition was repealed...
...so there's no reason to believe that it would be any different w/ drugs.

(And we could all go back to our regularly scheduled Mexican cruises)
;)[/quote

Legalization sounds like it would be the answer...though I doubt it highly. Alcohol is one thing...there are different varieties and flavors, but it is all still alcohol with fairly predictable results.

New drugs are coming on the scene all the time. The question is do we legalize all of them? There are uppers, downers and everything in between. Just read a couple of days ago that "Meth" or "Crank" is now a popular drug that the Mexican cartels are pushing. G-d forbid if we even think about legalizing Meth.

The southern border needs to be sealed (it can be done, if the will is there), more border patrol and enforcement sent as well, and ALL drug tunnels filled in. When Mexico suffers severely from a drop in tourism and U.S. border residents get more than sick and tired of the violence....something might change....one can only hope.:(

[iancal]

An innocent bystander in Calgary was shot last year. He lost his eyesight. An innocent boy in Montreal was killed by a bomb blast several years ago- believed to be the result of a Hell's Angels turf war. As noted earlier, Vancouver has more than it's share of gang violence and deaths arrising from street racing.

It can happen anywhere. And it has-in cities like Miami.

[solocanadian]

Yet the solution is so simple: Recognize that the "War on Drugs" has been a complete and utter failure, Legalize Drugs and tax them.

Alcohol manufacturers and distributors don't shoot one another on the streets anymore - That type of violence ended immediately after Prohibition was repealed...
...so there's no reason to believe that it would be any different w/ drugs.

(And we could all go back to our regularly scheduled Mexican cruises)
;)
Brian: I'm with you on this one & have been saying so for some time. If it were not for the illegal drugs the Vancouver gangs would not have much to fight over, resulting in 11 gang members being shot down in a family restaurant while celebrating a birthday.

[mexico5]

Plenty of shootings have taken place in what shouldn't be bad areas in Calgary. The gangs are taking over and innocent people are getting hurt or killed. I'm not the least bit worried about going to Mexico in a few weeks here. I will not change anything I normally do....which would not be considered risky in any way. I think if your number is up....it's up. This is my opinion only.

Are you going on a cruise to Mexico or a land vacation? I am taking my mother to Playa Del Carmen in a couple of months for our annual mother/daughter vacation!

[cherylgrrl]

I'm leaving Sunday on the Disney Wonder and just got word that they've changed their itinerary. We'll stop twice in Cabo instead! This isn't on my Disney cruise site, but someone just posted this on our board.

[lorekauf]

Are you going on a cruise to Mexico or a land vacation? I am taking my mother to Playa Del Carmen in a couple of months for our annual mother/daughter vacation!
Sorry, just saw this post now. I'm doing another cruise. Since I generally do my vacations solo I prefer a cruise. I think I would get bored at an all inclusive but I'm not ruling it out if the right price comes up this year.

[mexico5]

Sorry, just saw this post now. I'm doing another cruise. Since I generally do my vacations solo I prefer a cruise. I think I would get bored at an all inclusive but I'm not ruling it out if the right price comes up this year.

Well it certainly is cheaper to do an All Inclusive but I know what you mean about being bored...more to do on a ship! I love cruising with my DH but my mother prefers land vacations on her budget...

[HappyInVan]

Don't want to be a worry wart. But, this was shocking!


Mexican vacation turns to nightmare for Coquitlam MLA and husband


A Tri-Cities MLA and her husband say they will return to Mexico -- despite enduring a horrific experience that included a jail cell and an apparent shakedown that cost them approximately $1,500.
Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Diane Thorne and her husband Neil Edmondson have vacationed in Mexico more than a dozen times over the past 30 years, but their most recent trip included seeing a side of the country they had, until now, only experienced through the media.
Edmondson spent eight tense hours in a city jail following a car accident that had all the markings of a shakedown. The experience nearly sent the 78-year-old retiree -- who has severe asthma and has suffered a couple of strokes -- to the hospital.
"We've never had any family or friends that have had a bad experience, that we know of, in Mexico," Edmondson told The Coquitlam NOW in an exclusive interview. "We've never had a bad experience, but this time..."



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Mexican+vacation+turns+into+nightmare+Coquitlam+hu sband/4185979/story.html#ixzz1CN5rl0dX

[kazu]

Don't want to be a worry wart. But, this was shocking!


Mexican vacation turns to nightmare for Coquitlam MLA and husband


A Tri-Cities MLA and her husband say they will return to Mexico -- despite enduring a horrific experience that included a jail cell and an apparent shakedown that cost them approximately $1,500.
Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Diane Thorne and her husband Neil Edmondson have vacationed in Mexico more than a dozen times over the past 30 years, but their most recent trip included seeing a side of the country they had, until now, only experienced through the media.
Edmondson spent eight tense hours in a city jail following a car accident that had all the markings of a shakedown. The experience nearly sent the 78-year-old retiree -- who has severe asthma and has suffered a couple of strokes -- to the hospital.
"We've never had any family or friends that have had a bad experience, that we know of, in Mexico," Edmondson told The Coquitlam NOW in an exclusive interview. "We've never had a bad experience, but this time..."



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Mexican+vacation+turns+into+nightmare+Coquitlam+hu sband/4185979/story.html#ixzz1CN5rl0dX






Mexico and Mexicans are lovely. It is a shame that the drug fights are happenig and yes they are a risk. The sad thing is that the ships are pulling out (no one wonders why) out of a beautiful port and the people there are going to suffer from lack of tourism - all because of drugs.

I love the country, the history and the people, but it is understandable when the cruise lines pull out. they are not going to take any risks for their passengers.

sad,but true. and it's a loss