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Americans warned to be careful when traveling to Mexico


By S. Lynne Walker
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

7:42 p.m. September 14, 2006

MEXICO CITY – U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza Thursday warned Americans traveling to Mexico to take extra precautions to protect themselves against an alarming rise in drug violence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a strongly worded message citing the “near lawlessness of some parts of our border regions,” Garza said Americans have been killed, kidnapped and harassed as drug traffickers fight for control of lucrative corridors between Mexico and the United States.

“Violence in the U.S.-Mexico border region continues to threaten our very way of life,” Garza said. “Recently, throughout Mexico, that violence has escalated with sharp increases in murders and kidnappings of Mexican and American citizens alike.”

U.S. citizens have been injured by random shootings on major highways outside Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo and Mexico City, the U.S. Embassy said in an advisory issued Thursday along with Garza's written statement.

“Drug cartel members have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas,” the advisory said.

Garza noted that President Vicente Fox's government has “worked closely with American law enforcement to investigate crimes and reduce violence along our border.”

“But more must be done,” he said.

The Mexican government had no immediate comment on Garza's statements.

“Drug cartels, aided by corrupt officials, reign unchecked in many towns along our common border,” Garza said. “Local law enforcement – often driven by their fear of being targeted themselves for execution – have struggled to come to grips with rising drug warfare, kidnappings, and random street violence.”

Mexican law enforcement officials and journalists have been targeted by the deadly cartels.

A police chief in the border state of Nuevo Leon was ambushed and killed on Tuesday. Earlier this year, gunmen fired assault rifles into the offices of the Nuevo Laredo newspaper El Manana, critically injuring one reporter.

Garza singled out Nuevo Laredo as an example of the escalating violence.

On Tuesday, 25 people who were going to work for a Texas-based company were kidnapped from a hotel in Nuevo Laredo and assaulted and threatened, Garza said. Last week, six youths – including an American citizen – were killed in a gang-related shootout. Two weeks ago, an hour-long gun battle took place in downtown Nuevo Laredo.

The rise in drug violence, particularly along the border, has “put a strain on travel and tourism, on the business and investment climate, and on the bilateral relationship we share,” said Garza. “The bottom line is that we simply cannot allow drug traffickers to place in jeopardy the lives of our citizens and the safety of our communities.”