The attackers put a hood over her husbands head while they threatened them both. Finally, someone picked up. However travelers should always do some basic research before choosing a vacation destination and some areas of the country are more dangerous than others.. Kidnappings fell briefly thereafter, dipping to 1,069 in 2015, but they are starting to climb again. MONTERREY, Mexico David Ramirez, a 19-year-old college student from Mexico City, and his best friend Miguel Angel Rivera, 20, were on their way to celebrate Miguels birthday in Zihuatanejo, a coastal village in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Theyre also both fit and athletic, so they could make a run for it. During the height of the pandemic last year, the countrys tourism revenues plummeted by more than 50 percent. There's more bad news. Sevigny told Fox News Wednesday that the men handcuffed him, beat him and tortured him for 38 hours. The NGO detailed that, from December 2018 to September 2021,5 thousand 234 victims of kidnappinghave been registered, 3 thousand 993 investigation folders for the crime of kidnapping have been opened and 4 thousand 585 alleged kidnappers have been arrested. Among the incidents that have most scared the South Californians has been the multiple homicides in Callejn Manuel M. Ponce, wheresix peopleweremurderedin a house. But this number is likely a low ball. Save. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! From brutal beheadings to violent kidnappings, the cartel wars of Cancun have unleashed horror on Mexico's Caribbean coast as gangsters wreak havoc feet away from luxury resorts. But for many criminal groups, the risks inherent in these kidnappings the publicity and police attention they attracted often werent enough to justify the reward. We have other figures that dont coincide (with those of Alto al Secuestro), Garcia said. The foreign-looking men, according to the woman,blocked her way and tried to get her into the truck, but two neighbors recognized her and came to help her. I (just) wont be back in Cordoba for a while., Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. I have to say I have traveled in Guerrero, precisely in Taxco, one of the beautiful Mexican Pueblos Magicos (magic towns) at about 2-hour bus from Mexico City. They had to find other sources of income, which gave the hitmen in these groups carte blanche to participate in activities like kidnapping and extortion, he said. The 2019 study details that the bloody incidents have created a negative image of the tourist gem, which has a . There is also updated information on the "kidnapping risk"for the states of Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Sonora, Nuevo Leon, Puebla, Quintana Rooand San Luis Potosi. Dangerous Areas in Cancun. In 2019, that amounted to more than $25 billion generated from 45 million tourists, according to Mexicos National Tourism Business Council. Mexico is experiencing a combination of conditions that collectively degrade the security environment in certain areas, the report said. She climbed 20 feet up a tree and hid among the branches for several hours before Frank returned with officials later. In addition, for years it has been suspected that in Playas de Rosarito, a group ofRussian criminals could be behind a series of crimes in the entity. What I learned after being robbed at gunpoint in Mexico, It broke me: Everyone says you need power of attorney, but nobody tells you how hard it is to use. Cenotes Santa Barbara. Two men who were also there with them were killed and the women were sexually assaulted, he said. Kidnappings in Mexico come in three forms. While celebrating his 40th birthday, Flix worries about his associates' loyalty and confronts Pacho. The hot spots (or hot zones) in the country (Map: Infobae Mxico) In the aforementioned period, more than 4,491 murders were registered in the largest source of alarm in the country: the Guanajuato-Michoacn area - disputed mainly by the Jalisco Nueva Generacin Cartel, Santa Rosa de Lima, and the United Cartels -, and in where the National Guard has a permanent presence in 22 percent of . Abducting people and demanding ransom money is one way to do that. Violent drug . Make informed decisions that reduce your risk of being kidnapped. In fact, we were hardly bothered by anyone whose attention we did not want. Mexico is not doing anything to fix the problem, Almonte told The Post. Margarita Mara Ochoa, 72, is the sole survivor of a kidnapping that began at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16th. Before 2020, more than eight million Americans visited Mexico each year, and a 2019 census reported that 1.2 million American and Canadian expats call Mexico home.. Expats are mostly drawn to the beach areas for the amazing weather, crystal-clear Pacific Ocean or Caribbean Sea, the lower cost of living, and the . In 2017 the FBI investigated 116 kidnappings in Mexico. Forget about the Traffic Light entering Mexico. I was not kidnapped because of my photographs as far as I know. The attempted kidnappings highlight a concerning trend in Jalisco, where the number of women reported missing has risen steadily in each of the last four years, peaking at 1,161 disappearances in . Crespo and Valdez promised their victims safe passage across the Yucatan Straits and then overland across Mexico, according to court documents. News reports indicate that the increase in kidnappings in Mexico since 2005 is largely fueled by the drug trade and a surge in the number of criminal gangs. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. State governor Carlos Joaquin called the recent beach commando raid a serious blow to the development and security of the state putting the state at grave risk. With turf wars increasing among rival cartels, homicides in the state rose from 145 in 2015 to 628 in 2020 a 333 percent increase in a place where 75 percent of the local economy is based on tourism, according to Mexican statistics. MRIDA YUCATAN.-. When Jennifer and Frank Massabki traveled to Mexico in May 2017, they had recently gotten engaged and were looking for potential locations to host their wedding later that year. Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. Call Davids mom! This prompted them to go ahead and contact local authorities. Cartel violence, by gangs including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (top right), has taken over tourist hotspots from Cancun to Tulum, Mexico, leaving foreign vacationers like Jennifer Henzold . Various groups have splintered into smaller gangs, which have branched out into different illegal business activities, and the associated violence is spreading across Mexico., Dont miss: What I learned after being robbed at gunpoint in Mexico, Kidnappings in Mexico are largely underreported, The actual number of kidnappings in Mexico is largely underreported, according to the OSAC, due to widespread belief among tourists and locals alike that the police may be involved in the crime or are unable to resolve the situation.. We are going to check them. The city was . The high-profile kidnapping in 1994 of Alfredo Harp Hel, a Mexican entrepreneur whose family paid $30 million for his release, typifies this trend. And the problems getting worse. Reynaldo Marquez Crespo, 41, and Jancer Sergio Ramos Valdes, 33, both Cuban, face 35 years in prison on charges of alien smuggling and kidnapping. While five Mexican states including Michoacan and Sinaloa are listed as places not recommended for travel, the advisory for Veracruz has no restrictions. Mexican drug-trafficking organizations have been engaged in brutal fights against . ), violent crimes (being mugged or robbed, being attacked or insulted), corruption and other crimes. Yet drug-related violence and widespread media coverage of Mexico's insecurity have severely impacted its tourism industry. We live in purgatory: My wife has a multimillion-dollar trust fund, but my mother-in-law controls it. The principal motives for kidnapping are to subject the victim to some form of involuntary servitude, to expose him to the commission of some further criminal act against his person, or to . The couple believed they were able to escape because both spoke fluent Spanish and were physically fit. Founded by Juan Nepomuceno Guerra Crdenas in the 1930s in Matamoros, the Gulf Cartel first smuggled alcohol across the border during Prohibition. Still, the sisters hang on to their hope that Ramirez and Rivera are still alive. Last night there was an alleged attempt to kidnap a young woman in the streets of the Juan Pablo II subdivision, but two neighbors intervened and prevented the kidnapping. Its [the recent violence] definitely concerning but its all relative. There are no tourist kidnappings in Puerto Vallarta that I'm aware of. Hoy presentamos nuestro informe mensual sobre la incidencia del delito de #Secuestro con corte al mes de agosto pasado. In addition to battling their enemies in the Jalisco and Gulf cartels, they are fighting among themselves for control, said Almonte. Avoid driving at night and on small roads, Watch your drink being poured and be particularly careful at bars and nightclubs, Keep visible signs of wealth like jewelry, watches or platinum credit cards out of sight, Be vigilant when going to ATMs and use an ATM at your hotel or resort when possible, Contact the nearest embassy to report crimes. Im 66, we have more than $2 million, I just want to golf can I retire? 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Mexico kidnap: The inside story. There is a huge incentive to participate in these activities.. [1/8] Migrants who recently crossed the border and were caught walk back to Mexico after being dropped off by border patrol agents in Laredo, Texas, U.S. June 15, 2022.Picture taken June 15, 2022 . Despite the recent spate of drug violence, Tulums foreign residents are staying put. And, We couldnt get a warrant because our printer was broken. Its a joke.. I would be surprised if one tourist per year (out of the millions who come annually) was ever kidnapped. best THINGS TO DO IN MERIDA MEXICO. Source: infobae.com, seguridadjusticiaypaz.org.mx, Spring is coming and with it 17 tourist cruises will arrive, Watch out! 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. But after what occurred over the next few days, they didnt know if they ever wanted to set foot in the country again. The one we read about the most is Kidnap for Ransom. Other forms are Express Kidnapping where the victim is kidnapped for the sole purpose of making ATM withdrawals and Virtual Kidnappings where no kidnapping has actually occurred but family members are manipulated into thinking one has in an attempt to induce them to pay a ransom. Protesters join friends and family members of the 43 missing students of Ayotzinapa, Mexico, on the third year of their disappearance during marches held throughout 2017 in Mexico City. He said on Ciro por la maana that the rise in homicides and kidnappings over the past 80 days has shown that cartels and criminals are changing their tactics. And this week, the group was hit with a real blow, according to Almonte: Mexicos military arrested Rosalinda Gonzlez Valencia, the wife of Cervantes. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, I24, China News, Bloomberg, CBS, NBC, and ABC providing commentary and analysis. "Violent crimesuch as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robberyis widespread and common in Mexico," warns the State Department. Basically, if you know how to run a drug smuggling operation, you know and own 90 percent of what you need to be a secuestrador [kidnapper], he told me. The message threatened death to merchants who refuse to fork over bribes to the drug-trafficking gangs and was signed by Los Pelones the bald ones.. But . Kidnapping: percentage of cases for ransom 2004-2012, by continent Family violence crime victims in Russia 2012-2021 Usage of the search term symphony in bibliographic databases in the U.S. 2010 We've received your submission. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mexican cities remain top tourist destinations. Among those killed were Rhonita Maria Miller, 30, and her four children Howard, 12, Krystal 10, and 8-month-old babies Titus and Tiana. 11 March 2016. The three Santa Barbara cenotes are in the pueblo (small town) of Homun, where you'll find many of the best cenotes near Merida. The death of a Mexican businesswoman snatched by sicarios while picking up her child at a friend's home and who body was found decapitated inside a black bag briefly rattled and heightened fears . Mexico City's . Will you support Voxs explanatory journalism? Despite the opening of specialized prosecutors offices, the government has not yet been able to curb the cruelty of themurders, uprisings, and extortion. Hundreds of people in Mexico are kidnapped every year. According to a message from the victim on social media, the events occurredon 32nd avenue, near the Nuestra Seora del Rosario church. The states Americans have been strictly told to avoid are Colima, Guerrero, Michoacn, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas. Later, the operation expanded to include gambling, prostitution and theft. They say, We havent been able to investigate because we havent had an internet connection in seven months. The fugitive heir to the Max Factor cosmetics empire, Andrew Luster, was living a modest life in a Mexican seaside resort for about a month before he was caught by a . For many, this municipality is much more interesting and refined thanTijuana, which is why during the holidays a large number of young Americans come attracted by good seafood and lively nightlife. Ramirez was taken first, according to a text message that Rivera frantically sent to a friend. Authorities believe drug cartels are choosing express kidnappings as a way to get high volume . The month of August of this year registered a decrease of 5.7 percent in the crime of kidnapping compared to the same period of 2019, as reported by Stop Kidnapping. Two men promised to smuggle at least three Cuban migrants into the United States, but instead locked them in a Merida house and tortured them, Florida prosecutors say. Im asked a lot about travel to Mexico, and my recommendation is dont go.. Furthermore, if possible travel in at least groups of 2 or more and when using the ATM one individual acts as a buffer/distance mechanism for any who may be attempting to observe or approach. Cuitalhuac Garcia, governor of Veracruz, appeared to acknowledge Wednesday morning that the number of kidnappings had shut up last month, telling radio journalist Ciro Gomez Leyva that it was worrisome. Cecilia A. narrated that she was walking on the aforementioned avenue whensuddenly two subjects aboard a red Jeep approached. Other advice includes using ATMs which are well lit, or inside banks, to reduce the likelihood of being interrupted or suprised. Mexico is a wonderful country, and one that is high on our list of vacation destinations. Her burned-out bullet-ridden SUV was reportedly found . Like a scene out of a movie, the friends of an American tourist had a miserable night out in the Cancun area. Kidnapping refers to the abduction and captivity of a person, typically to obtain a ransom. Like most big cities, organised crime occurs. That is about the same as Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Between 2000 and 2006, there were about 400 kidnappings a year, which, while still a lot, pales in comparison to current numbers. Beginning next month, the soldiers will be stationed in Cancun and surrounding areas, including Tulum, where Mexican law enforcement said there are 10 groups fighting for drug dominance in the picture-postcard resort town. All of which means that many kidnappers feel, rightly, that the odds of police having the skill or inclination to come after them are pretty low. They never made it. According to the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice AC, the rearrangement and the dispute of the cartels by the areas of the state, brought the municipality of Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, to first place in the list of the most violent sites in Mexico. Homicides shot up 16 percent during the first half of this year as drug traffickers and gangs battle for dominance. One kidnapper cut off a victims finger when family members couldnt raise funds to release him, court documents say. If money was paid, the victims were sent on a bus to the U.S. border and instructed to ask for asylum, according to prosecutors. Right now you have factions fighting for leadership within the Sinaloa Cartel to control the sale of opioids, and you have the larger cartels all fighting each other, he told The Post. TheU.S. State Department issued an updated Travel AdvisoryWednesday for U.S. travelers visiting Mexico, including new state-level adviceandinformation on "kidnapping risk.". In addition, we dug a bit into the past to identify those incidents which were published in which an individual or family found itself the victim of a kidnapping. S2, Ep2. However the tragic death of Susana Carrera, whose body was found a week after she was kidnapped allegedly with a note claiming she was killed because her husband didnt want to pay a $207,000 ransom, is just one of the dozens of kidnappings and murders reported in the first two months of the year. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. According to Numbeo's 2021 statistics, Merida ranks #8 as the safest city in the Americas. The Civil Association Stop Kidnapping announced that the number of victims by kidnapping in Mexico increased 29.5 percent, compared to the month of December, registering 114 victims.. Unfortunately, in other latitudes of the country, the victims and investigation files for the crime of kidnapping have increased significantly. In addition, they are in charge of defending the plaza with murders and kidnappings against the Jalisco Nueva Generacin Cartel and the Tijuana Cartel. The agency cited an "increased risk of crime and kidnapping" in certain areas of Mexico. The police captured a cartel boss, who may have died in the encounter, but that's about all the news for PV, other than they are bringing in more Military/ National Guard to keep things safe, a normal thing . Veracruz has been the witness of a bloody rivalry between drug cartels in recent years as well as impunity and government corruption that has led to an explosive cocktail of violence and uncertainty in the state, Al Jazeera reported last year. He said he is speaking out about his experience because there are thousands of other victims who cannot. It ended on Sunday the 18th, when police officers broke into the building at 113 . In Monterrey Mexico a gemologist was kidnapped in 2014 while on a fishing trip. Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of crime and kidnapping. Between January and March 2018, 400 kidnappings occurred. It all started in 2017 when the local authorities carried out the arrest of two men of Russian origin, who in the United States had a criminal record implicated in drug dealing. The government itself is completely incapable of dealing with the problem., MEXICAN POLICE FIND 20 BODIES, MOST BURNED, CLOSE TO US BORDER. 8. Reducing your risk of kidnapping in a high risk destination. However, experts agree that negative news about the violent situation discourages tourists from going to southern Baja California. Another victim, who had medical issues and wore a colostomy bag, was stripped naked, tied up and stunned with a Taser, the Miami Herald reported. Two human rights organizations, the Association . In Mexico, it is common for police officers to be directly involved in crime, any crime, said Gomez. Then the kidnappers sent a video of the torture to his family members in Las Vegas, according to the complaint.The kidnappers contacted a second victims family in Miami and said their relative would be beaten and killed if they didnt fork over $7,000, according to court records. In Baja California, the arrival of theArzate brothers, meant a radical change in the illegal drug business. July 4, 1956, WestburyWhen Mrs. Weinberger checks on her sleeping 1-month-old son, Peter, all she finds is an empty carriage and a ransom note, promising the baby will be returned "safe and sound" once the $2,000 demand is met. Thu 19 Jun 2003 21.26 EDT. We can't provide you with security and protection. Two of the . If a U.S. citizen still decides to travel to a Mexican state with a Level 4, or "do not travel to,"Travel Advisory or Level 3, "reconsider travel to," Travel Advisory, they are urged to read the State Department's information on high-risk travel. On Feb. 19, rival drug dealers opened fire at Art Beach Tulum, a restaurant on the outskirts of Tulum where an order of sea bass with asparagus risotto and seaweed cream goes for $35. In addition, the number of research folders started increased by 1.1%, from 85 in . The state ofBaja California cannot clean its face from the violence that thedrug traffickingleft. . A police cordon marks the perimeter of the site where a forensic team and judicial authorities work in unmarked graves where skulls were found, on the outskirts of Veracruz, Mexico March 16, 2017. The State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Mexico, which means . Last week, the State Department issued an alert to U.S. citizens when reports of "multiple vehicle fires, roadblocks, and heavy police activity" surfaced in Tijuana and the surrounding area. According to the 2012 estimates, there were 100,000 Mennonites living in Mexico [1] (including 32,167 baptized adult church members), [5] the vast majority of them, or about 90,000 are established in the state of Chihuahua, [2] 6,500 were living in Durango, [3] with the rest living in small colonies in the states of . In its monthly report, the organizationAlto al Secuestrorecorded a decrease in the crime of kidnapping in Mexico. According to the U.S. Department of State, 66 of these were U.S. citizens, 14 of these cases involved Legal Permanent Residents. I feel safer here than I do in Los Angeles, he said, adding that after the October shootings, the Mexican government dispatched 450 National Guard soldiers to Tulum to keep the peace. The Australian Government is not able to guarantee your safety. Despite the uptick in violence at tourist destinations and the deployment of troops, Lopez Obrador said the country is forging ahead with ambitious plans to construct an international airport in Tulum by 2023, as well as a 900-mile train route that would link resort spots in Quintana Roo to some of the regions far-flung historic and ecological sites. Between January and March 2018, almost 400 people were kidnapped. People keep asking me if Tulum is safe. (Courtesy of John Sevigny). Zero kidnappings in Yucatan. Similarly, the State Public Safety Council was installed and through Yucatn Seguro technological equipment was acquired to strengthen State security through video cameras, among other strategies. This is a kidnapping.. The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory for Americans visiting Mexico last year, saying to exercise increased caution due to crime. A third victim escaped the Merida hideout and alerted Mexican authorities, who freed an unknown number of captives. Its a mess.. When they saw that the neighbors came out they got into their truck and left, she said. The embassy notes, that in some cases ransom is paid and the victim freed, in other cases the victim is killed despite a ransom being paid. The report presented on Monday warned thatSalamanca and Tecomncomplete the list of the top five violent cities. Like all countries around the world, sexual assault, pickpocketing and scams also present risks for travellers. Sevigny told Fox News he left forMexico City after he was releasedand because his passport was stolen, he had to go to the U.S. Embassy for help. While the majority of Cancun is pretty safe, it's still not the safest place to stay in Mexico. As I mentioned above, Yucatan is one of the safest places . Its the highest across Mexico with the State of Mexico (Edomex) and Mexico City reporting 63 and 32 kidnappings respectively. In our piece, How to manager you Mexico vacation and not get shot I tell the story of a taxi ride in Puerto Vallarta where the driver of the cab makes a call to an unidentified individual and speaks of how the cab with the older white haired male and redheaded female will arrive in about 20 mins. Its also become the most feared of the Mexican drug gangs. I am glad the wedding couple escaped alive. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); "Alto al Secuestro" announced that Yucatn is among the 8 states of the republic that report zero kidnappings. Without jinxing anything, what we want to make clear is that Merida is a very safe place to be. The states of Veracruz, Mexico City, Puebla, Morelos, and the State of Mexico had the highest incidence of kidnapping crime. The Miami-native has traveled extensively for nearly two decades throughout Mexico and Latin America documenting, as he calls it, the lives of people who are struggling to live., American photographer John Sevigny was kidnapped while visiting the city of Cordoba in the Mexican state of Veracruz, where violence and crime is on the rise. Answer (1 of 7): The very fact of asking the question shows how totally distorted the world media is regarding Mexico. When Jennifer and Frank Massabki traveled to Mexico in May 2017, they had recently gotten engaged and were looking for potential locations to host their wedding later that year. Frank ran and found police who returned to get Jennifer, who was hiding in a tree from her attackers. The kidnappers told the Massabkis to start thinking of people to call in the U.S. for a ransom. With longtime kingpin El Chapo gone, things have been a bit messy in the organization, which smuggles a wide variety of drugs, including opioids. The U.S. State Department issued an updated Travel Advisory Wednesday for U.S. travelers visiting Mexico, including new state-level advice and information on "kidnapping . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also determined Mexico to beLevel 3, or High, for COVID-19. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a campaign aimed at persuading people to not break the law. The Yucatan peninsula was close to the U.S., which it had tried to join on three separate occasions. In 2017 the FBI investigated 116 kidnappings in Mexico. Cabeza de Vaca without limits: former governor persecuted by justice will seek the Presidency! They were robbed of everything including his American passport. My main concern is about the people who cant get out, he said. This is the real story of "Maria" and her husband "Jose". The fact that in a long period of time there has been not a single kidnapping in Yucatan is due to some of the strategies deployed at the state level, such as the installation of the Coordination Table for the Construction of Peace and the operation of the Multidisciplinary Group of Justice. I feel extremely safe here, said a Dutch expatriate, who just closed on a home in the area. Sometimes kidnappers hold their captives longer in order to demand more money from the victim's relatives or associates. In 2015, they shot down a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. USA TODAY. Is Merida Mexico safe? The First Feminist Congress was held in Mrida even if most liberal women were uncomfortable with the idea of . Hearing this, my wife and I exited the cab at the next stop light. Apr 24, 2022, 7:16 PM. All rights reserved. In the images you could see the man with his hands tied and blindfolded. Thats where the foreigners, visiting the Malquerida Bar last month, had the bad luck of getting caught in cartel crossfire. Nearly 1,200 kidnappings occurred in Mexico last year. Verdin taunts the DEA agents torturing him. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The kidnapping shocks middle-class, Long Island suburbia and makes nationwide headlines. 0:00. None of the killings occurred . When Frank got out to talk to the driver, two men with weapons descended upon them and took them hostage in their car, according to a police report filed with Mexico City officials. They had both been to Mexico a handful of times over the years, but said that experience didnt help them avoid this incident. The states of Veracruz, Mexico City, Puebla, Morelos, and the State of Mexico had the highest incidence of kidnapping crime. Scores are obtained through a methodology that includes crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, willful injury, and extortion. To put things in perspective, consider that the murder rate in Mexico's Yucatan State is 2 per 100,000. Cancun and other Mexican vacation cities remain top destinations for U.S. travelers despite several safety warnings in 2017 and early 2018. The number of victims of kidnapping in Mexico decreased by 10.5% per month in February, when 110 cases were registered compared to 123 in January 2021, the NGO Alto al Secuestro reported on Monday. From about 2007 to 2016, the number of criminal groups in Mexico rocketed from six to 400, according to Mexico United Against Organized Crime. There he spoke with a federal agent, who said they could not investigate unless he made a report with local authorities in Cordoba. 50. Between 2000 and 2006, there were about 400 kidnappings a year, which, while still a lot . You can also contribute via. A few hours later, Ramirez managed to contact his sister, Deborah. The 80 days mark the first two months under the new administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office Dec. 1. Although Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates globally, when it comes to kidnapping and mugging, Cancn is generally safe.Wealthy persons who travel to locations where police and security services are not present can be targets. Shows how much people think the problem in their community are property crimes (home broken, car theft, etc.