The US State Department warns tourists to keep an eye on the market as cartel violence continues to surge in busy beach resort areas in Los Cabos. The violence includes not only shootings and targeted killings, but also style attacks on city buses that are set on fire by gunmen despite the packed passengers.
The violence began early in the week with multiple killings across Baja California, Mexico. The incident includes targeted attacks against police. The violence is linked to the ongoing grass war between the Sinaloan cartel rival facts, primarily Chapitos and Mayorosi.
In addition to the murders and shootings last week, a group of gunmen sparked a fire to pass buses in the cities of La Paz and Los Cabos. The video being shared on social media captured one of the attacks. There, three men were seen throwing fuel into the bus, setting it on fire, illuminating it. After a few seconds, passengers can see them leaving the bus.
This tactic became commonplace in Sinaloa, where both Los Chapitos and Los Mayos gunmen were setting fire to businesses and vehicles believed to be bound by their rivals. Indiscriminate acts of arson and violence claim some innocent lives despite the Mexican government’s empty assurance that the area is safe.
By Friday afternoon, consulate officials had sent security alerts to tourists aware of the increased violence and informing us that they would be evacuated in the event of a conflict.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist for the Breitbart News Foundation. He co-founded with Cartel Chronicles Project, Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart Management of the Breitbart News Foundation. You can follow him Twitter And on Facebook. You can contact him iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Derby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles Project of the Breitbart News Foundation with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart Management. Follow him Twitter and Facebook. You can contact him bdarby@breitbart.com.
