Mexico's Drug War

Mexico’s drug war is an issue for tourists visiting the country or expats living there. According to some news reports, there have been a reported 7, 000 related deaths this year alone.

It appears that the violence has been “narco on narco”. This basically means that drug dealers are killing one another.

But what does this mean for the security and safety of travelers and expats to Mexico?

For travelers, as least in the U.S., Mexico is a popular Spring Break spot for college students. It’s also a popular stop over point for cruise ships. Most of the drug related violence has occurred in cities and towns located near the U.S./Mexico border, far from tourist destinations.

In my opinion, if you are a tourist traveling to places like Cancun or Acapulco, then you should have no worries for the drug violence in the news. However, you should still practice sound personal security while visiting these destinations. Just because you may not become a victim of drug violence doesn’t mean that can’t become a victim of other crimes.

As for expats living in Mexico, things may be a bit different, especially if you live in the cities where the violence is occurring. Many American choose to live in these borders towns to both enjoy the cheap cost of living in Mexico, yet still have access to the U.S. for conveyance.

Expats in these towns have to make some tough decisions about their lifestyle. For example, the first recommendation I have is to move from these cities. I know this is an extreme option because it involves uprooting your life; however, there is a chance that if you do not move then your life could be ended. Remember I mentioned that the drug violence is basically drug dealer against drug dealer and even though you may not be involved, you or a family member could become a victim of a stray bullet. When I was a police officer we used to say, “a bullet knows no name.” This means that you could unexpectedly be injured or killed by accident just because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

For those expats who can not move away I suggest practicing both sound home security and personal security. Understand that you are currently living in a war zone and must act accordingly. Also, if you have children, be sure that they will be safe at school because sometimes schools maybe located in the vicinity of the violence.

Mexico’s drug war is a serious issue for both tourists and expats visiting the country. Therefore, if you plan on visiting or relocating to Mexico I would strongly advise you to think twice and most of all please be careful.

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