Spring break time is approaching and I want to offer parents of "spring breakers" some advice. DO NOT allow your children to go to Mexico for their vacations. It is simply too dangerous to take the risk.
Many areas of the country have deteriorated into total anarchy. Kidnappings and murders are common. There have been more murders in Mexico than all the war related deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The entire country is in turmoil with Mexico's President increasing pressure on the drug gangs and the resulting retaliation by the gangs. With the killing of drug leader Leyjva by federal troops, the competetion between the drug cartels to fill his spot has increased.
These animals are ruthless and will stop at nothing. They recruit teenage kids with drugs and use them as "dispensibles", furnishing them weapons and drugs to carry out murders, kidnappings and torture of their rivals. The drug cartels also have their own more professional enforcers to carry out kidnappings for ransom of both Mexicans and US citizens.
Make no mistake about it, these are extremely well armed and dangerous people that will stop at nothing to further their drug business and they have now begun to infiltrate more ordinary businesses as fronts in order to launder their drug money. It is impossible to depend upon the local police, and in many cases the federal troops, for protection and help since many are on the payroll of the drug gangs.
Please try to talk to your kids about this and discourage travel to any place in Mexico, from border towns to luxury resorts. None are safe from the drug related war going on down there. I cannot over emphasize how dangerous it is. By example, we will not hire anyone that has a family for our business in Mexico. It is simply too risky.
If this saves even one family from the agony of losing a loved one to the drug violence, it has been worthwhile to post this.
Many areas of the country have deteriorated into total anarchy. Kidnappings and murders are common. There have been more murders in Mexico than all the war related deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The entire country is in turmoil with Mexico's President increasing pressure on the drug gangs and the resulting retaliation by the gangs. With the killing of drug leader Leyjva by federal troops, the competetion between the drug cartels to fill his spot has increased.
These animals are ruthless and will stop at nothing. They recruit teenage kids with drugs and use them as "dispensibles", furnishing them weapons and drugs to carry out murders, kidnappings and torture of their rivals. The drug cartels also have their own more professional enforcers to carry out kidnappings for ransom of both Mexicans and US citizens.
Make no mistake about it, these are extremely well armed and dangerous people that will stop at nothing to further their drug business and they have now begun to infiltrate more ordinary businesses as fronts in order to launder their drug money. It is impossible to depend upon the local police, and in many cases the federal troops, for protection and help since many are on the payroll of the drug gangs.
Please try to talk to your kids about this and discourage travel to any place in Mexico, from border towns to luxury resorts. None are safe from the drug related war going on down there. I cannot over emphasize how dangerous it is. By example, we will not hire anyone that has a family for our business in Mexico. It is simply too risky.
If this saves even one family from the agony of losing a loved one to the drug violence, it has been worthwhile to post this.
