Above the Tearline: Security Risks in Mexico over Spring Break
Video Transcript:
Vice President of Tactical Intelligence Scott Stewart examines the risks of traveling in Mexico during spring break and makes security recommendations that apply to any vacation destination.
Editor’s Note: Transcripts are generated using speech-recognition technology. Therefore, STRATFOR cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.
It's spring break season, and in this week's "Above the Tearline" we are going to look at travel and security risks over spring break in Mexico and how the cartel violence in Mexico affects spring break.
As the cartel wars have raged in Mexico, they have impacted not only the smuggling plazas along the U.S. border -- towns like Reynosa, Neuvo Laredo, Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez -- but they have also spread down to the ports because the incoming narcotics and, of course, precursor chemicals for making synthetic drugs like methamphetamines, come in through the ports into Mexico. Therefore, these ports are very important places for the cartels to control; they are critical real estate.
As you look at the cartel map of Mexico and pay attention to these places and ports along the coast, you notice there are very few places that are not controlled by one or another of the cartels. It's this struggle, this turmoil, among the cartels that has resulted in the violence we are seeing in some of these cities. We have seen an increase in gunfights, beheadings, and kidnappings related to this cartel struggle in cities such as Acapulco and Mazatlan. In fact, we have seen cruise ships begin to cancel ports of call in these cities due to the danger presented by the gunfights.
Of course, the violence in north Mexico, in places like Juarez and Monterrey, is bringing a lot of law enforcement, especially federal law enforcement, attention. So, a lot of federal police and troops are located in these places, which means there has been a vacuum of security in other places, giving room to common street criminals. They now have less pressure from the authorities than they have before and more latitude to act. That means we have seen an increase in things like armed robberies, kidnappings, assaults and even express kidnappings (short-term kidnappings where they hold someone until the contents of their checking or savings account are depleted by use of an ATM card).
The "Above the Tearline" aspect of this is that these principles do not apply only to Mexico. In fact, we see people every year, even in the United States, who are victimized by criminals when they are on spring break. So, a lot of the recommendations we have made in out spring break report are also very pertinent to people taking spring break in the United States, places like Florida, South Padre Island or even New Orleans. Most of it revolves around practicing common sense security, being aware of one's surrounding, not getting totally inebriated to the point where you can't practice situational awareness and other little tips, things like not taking drinks from a stranger, not making yourself a tempting target by flashing large quantities of money or wearing expensive jewelry. These are all the common sense types of things that will keep you safe, whether you are in the United States or Mexico.
Another critical point is that students really shouldn't venture outside alone, especially after dark. Being part of a group does not guarantee safety, but it certainly helps you from being victimized by criminals and does lessen the risk.
