Police in Mexico’s Caribbean coast have discovered the bodies of four men, one of whom was a police officer, who were shot dead near a resort just south of Cancun. The victims were found with gunshot wounds to the head and had been left near the highway leading out of Cancun, according to Luis Rodríguez Bucio, the assistant head of Mexico’s Public Safety Department. One of the men found at the scene was a former Cancun police officer who was caught going through the pockets of one of the bodies and claimed the deceased was his friend. He was subsequently arrested.
Among the four victims was a Cancun police officer who had been previously accused of accepting bribes to protect brothels, despite remaining on the police force. At the time of his death, he was on medical leave. Authorities believe that the victims might have been involved in providing protection for migrant smugglers and that the killings could be linked to a property raid earlier in the year where weapons and drugs were seized.
It is common for drug cartels in Mexico to eliminate rivals in order to safeguard their territories and criminal activities. Officials reported that more than two-thirds of the 88 murders that occurred nationwide in Mexico on Thursday were likely connected to drug cartels. The Caribbean coast, particularly Cancun, serves as a hub for smugglers to transport migrants illegally through Mexico due to its accessible airline connections and high number of tourists, which allows migrants to blend in without attracting too much attention.
In recent years, drug cartels in Mexico have expanded their operations to include migrant smuggling and have been engaged in violent disputes over drug trafficking routes in resort areas along the coast. These recent deaths near Cancun come shortly after a tragic incident where a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot by gunmen on jet skis at a beach in the area.
The escalating violence between drug cartels has posed a significant security threat to popular tourist destinations in Mexico. In Acapulco, ten bodies were discovered earlier this year, highlighting the rampant violence linked to criminal organizations in the region. The U.S. government has issued warnings to American travelers visiting Mexico, advising them to exercise caution, especially in downtown areas of popular destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
The alarming rise in drug-related crimes and cartel activities in Mexico underscores the need for increased vigilance and security measures for both locals and tourists in the region. The authorities are working to address these challenges and ensure the safety of residents and visitors amidst the ongoing threat posed by organized crime.
