Beachcombers saw bootprints alongside seashells on Sunday in Cancún as Mexico’s National Guard joined sunbathers oceanside to protect resort-goers from a rolling wave of cartel violence that has claimed the lives of at least two tourists.
One battalion, consisting approximately 1,500 soldiers, entered Quintana Roo’s tourist communities of Isla Mujeres Solidaridad, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres on Wednesday. On Thursday, they began patrolling the streets and beaches.
These striking photographs showed the men in uniform, dressed in fatigues in the heat of the sun. They contrasted with sunbathers in sloppy attire for the 82 degrees.
The National Guard’s Tourist Security Battalion was introduced by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on November 17th, following shootings that have tarnished region’s image (including the murders Two female tourists, one from San Jose California.
Two members of Mexico’s National Guard definitely weren’t flaunting their beach bodies in their tactical gear and body armor as they patrolled seaside, through a sea of beach blankets and sunbathing tourists on Sunday in Cancún’s hotel zone
One couple was seen gazing at soldiers who had been sent to Cancun’s beaches in wake of two murders by cartels.
While two women talk to one another, a guardman dressed in his full-fibres patrols the heat at 82°F.
On Sunday, National Guard personnel can be seen walking on Cancun’s beach with sun on their backs. They also have automatic weapons in their arms.
On Wednesday, a battalion consisting of approximately 1,500 soldiers entered the Quintana Roo tourist areas of Isla Mujeres and Solidaridad. They began patrolling streets and beaches on Thursday.
Fun in the sun may be a bit safer for tourists since President Andrés Manuel López Obrador introduced Mexico’s National Guard Tourist Security Battalion on November 17 following the death of two tourists amid cartel crossfire
Anjali Ryot of San Jose (left), was killed by two rival drug dealers in Tulum on October 19. This 25-year-old Indian national was in Mexico to celebrate her birthday. Jennifer Henzold (35) a German national, was shot to death at Tulum’s La Malquerida Bar on October 20, 2005
Robert Almonte (an expert on international criminal organisations) said that it was too little and too late in a Friday phone interview.
A team of 15 hired assassins murdered two rival drug dealers on a beach next to the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancún in Puerto Morelos on November 4. Tourists and employees were forced to take refuge at the hotel after the broad daylight attack. The armed gang fled on speedboats.
Anjali Ryoy was a 25 year-old Indian citizen who lived in California. Jennifer Henzold, 35, was a German citizen. They were involved in a turf battle. The shootout also left two German-born men and one woman from the Netherlands with serious injuries.
On June 11, a 30-year-old woman visiting from Kentucky was shot and wounded after assassins arrived at a Cancún beach on jet skis and killed two workers inside a gift shop.
Although the Mexican National Guardsmen are not camouflaging in beach camouflage, they do blend well. Officials are hopeful that tourists will not be injured or killed by their presence at high-volume tourist spots.
A 30-year-old American woman vacationing from Kentucky was wounded June 11 at Playa Tortugas, a beach in Cancún, after two gunmen stepped off their jet skis and opened fire, killing two male workers outside a gift shop before escaping
Almonte, an ex-U.S. Marshal, stated that tourists have been being attacked and killed at resorts for some time. It wasn’t until recently, however, that the president created this unit to address resort issues. Former deputy chief of El Paso Police Department, Marshal of Texas’ Western District.
At least 21,495 people had died as of September in violent incidents linked to criminal organizations, according to government data.
Quintana Roo has a population around 1.9million people. It reported a slight decrease in murders from January to September. The state recorded 442 homicides compared to 463 during the same time last year.
According to data from the government, at least 21 495 victims had been killed in September due to violent crimes linked to criminal organisations. Mexico’s National Guard Tourist Safety Battalion (two members are shown juxtaposed with a sandy tourist) was established to try and keep this number under control.
Tourists continue to book their holidays at resorts throughout the region, where they attract almost 20 million people each year.
The killings did not stop tourists from booking holiday stays in resorts throughout the region. Its stunning beaches, warm waters, and close to 20 million people each year draw thousands of visitors.
Benito Juárez mayor Mara Lezama welcomed the deployment throughout Cancún and the neighboring cities.
According to Excelsior, she stated that “It is a great and historic day” on the topic of security prevention.
Almonte said that although the National Guard is a positive step forward, this will not stop the criminal organisations from operating in their pursuit of rival targets.
Almonte explained that the bottom line was that these cartels have a brutal nature. They won’t let the presence national guardsmen stop them from carrying out their mission, which is to kill someone. When they do this, they don’t pay attention to anyone. Tourists are also killed when they spray bullets.