Mexico 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Nogales
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Mexico 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Nogales This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Nogales. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in the northern portion of the State of Sonora. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Mexico country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Mexico at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Reconsider travel to Sonora (Level 3) due to crime. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation 2019 was the most violent year on record in Mexico with 35,558 reported homicides. Murder increased 2.7% nationwide since 2018, now the second-most violent year on record. Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Nogales as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The overall level of crime in Sonora increased in 2019. Homicide, vehicle theft, home invasions, and incidents of rape all increased in 2019. Reported incidents of kidnapping and rape decreased. Violence related to Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO, drug cartels) continues to dominate as the motive behind many of the homicides and violent crimes in the Nogales district. Most TCO-related violence has occurred in other cities, such as Caborca, Magdalena, and Altar. In 2018, intense gun battles and assassinations took place in Magdalena and Caborca. Gunmen opened fire on a convoy carrying three women and six children near Bavispe, Sonora, in November 2019; it is likely that a TCO was behind the attack. In 2018, there were 147 reported homicides in the Nogales consular district. In 2019, that number increased by two-thirds, to 248. Non-drug cartel related street crime (e.g. armed robbery, assault, burglary) continues to occur in the Nogales Consular District, with some categories showing significant change. In 2019, petty theft and muggings not associated with TCOs increased. Review OSAC’s report, All That You Should Leave Behind. No area of Nogales is immune from violent crime. However, consider the area between El Periferico highway and Avenida Obregon safer than outlying suburban areas. The violent crimes that do occur in this area generally happen after dark. Travel through the city only during daylight hours. Avoid walking after dark in Nogales. Most businesses close by 2200. Avoid bars and nightclubs, which provide a dangerous mix of guns, drugs, and cartel personnel. 1 Mexican laws prohibit ownership of personal firearms. Most firearms present in the consular district belong to Mexican law enforcement and military via legitimate means and narco-trafficking criminal elements via illegitimate means. Most narco-trafficking elements possess weapons of various size, including assault rifles, grenades, and belt-fed machine guns. However, the most common weapons involved in narco-related crimes are 9-mm pistols and 7.62-caliber assault rifles. During the 2018-2019 period, most gun violence in the consular district took place in more remote parts of town and/or in late- night hours. Residential burglaries in the Nogales consular district increased 200% from 2018 to 2019. These crimes are most common during the day and on weekends or holidays, when houses are vacant. Thieves often gain entry through unsecured entryways, by tricking domestic employees or using force to access homes that appear to be vacant. The theft of vehicles, carjacking, and theft of parts from parked vehicles remain the most prevalent crimes in the Nogales consular district. There were 510 reported vehicle thefts in 2019, a significant increase from 322 in 2018. TCOs look to steal heavy-duty pick-up trucks and SUVs for their ability to carry heavy loads at high speed across difficult terrain. Organized criminal gangs continue to cause significant levels of violence throughout parts of the country. Mexico is experiencing a combination of conditions that collectively degrade the security environment in certain areas. The government has captured some of its most wanted criminals. Consequently, organized criminal groups are becoming much less organized and disciplined. The northern half of Mexico had been a higher-threat area, primarily due to organized criminal conflicts and competition for drug trafficking routes to the U.S. However, recent statistics show that violence is on the rise in central and southern states as well, particularly in Guerrero, Michoacán, and Estado de México. Various groups have splintered into smaller gangs, which have branched out into different illegal business activities, and associated violence is spreading across Mexico. One common practice is for gangs to charge protection fees or add their own tax to products/services, with the threat of violence for those who fail to pay. Extortionists have targeted foreign and U.S. companies, attacked some for not responding to demands. Some criminal groups will mandate that individuals or even whole communities work for them as lookouts or couriers. Others will threaten municipal and state administrators into accepting corrupt practices. Beheadings, lynching, torture, and other gruesome displays of violence, as well as high numbers of forced disappearances, have become routine occurrences, including in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Criminals have killed numerous journalists and bloggers for reporting on these incidents. Regarding cartel violence, wrong-place/wrong-time incidents present the greatest threat to personal safety. The best ways to reduce the risk is to practice good personal security habits, especially maintaining high situational awareness and promptly departing from potentially dangerous situations. The Government of Mexico along with the Tamaulipas and Coahuila state governments continue to engage in efforts to combat Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), especially along the border. To prevent and combat violence, the federal government has deployed military troops, federal police, and the national guard throughout the country. The location and timing of armed engagements are unpredictable. The vast majority of those killed in such engagements have been members of TCOs and Mexican security forces, but innocent bystanders have died in shootouts between TCOs and Mexican officials. 2 There are numerous reports in which criminals skimmed U.S. credit/debit card numbers, stealing the money in their debit accounts or fraudulently charging their credit cards. Skimming is the theft of credit card information by an employee of a legitimate merchant or bank, manually copying down numbers or using a magnetic stripe reader or using a camera and skimmer installed in an ATM. In addition to skimming, the risk of physical theft of credit or debit cards also exists. Try to use ATMs in bank branches during business hours. Visitors on day trips should use U.S. ATMs prior to crossing into Mexico; Mexican establishments accept U.S. dollars widely. Portable credit card terminals are widely available in Mexico, and travelers should always request the establishment bring a portable credit card terminal to them to charge their credit card in their physical presence. Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Cybersecurity Issues Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Driving in Nogales requires vigilance, a defensive attitude, and Mexican insurance. Local drivers are generally not very experienced and often have cars that are poorly maintained or in disrepair. Be alert for vehicles moving slower than the rest of the traffic, and for vehicles speeding through traffic signals at the last minute. Poor lighting, unclear road makings, and lack of signage contribute to hazardous driving conditions. Exercise caution around public buses, which are not known for their safe driving practices. Pedestrians, to include small children, jaywalk often with disregard for personal safety. Driving while intoxicated is against the law in Mexico. The Municipal Police Department (Policia Municipal) enforces legitimate DUI checkpoints within the Nogales city limits. These legitimate checkpoints have adequate markings, are located on major roads, and almost exclusively operate in the evening hours. The government has also deployed federal police and military personnel to combat organized criminal groups. Police also set up various administrative checkpoints in and around cities (speed control, sobriety checkpoints) and along the highways (vehicle registration checkpoints). However, criminal organizations sometimes erect their own unauthorized checkpoints and have killed/abducted motorists who fail to stop and/or pay a “toll.” Likewise, self-defense groups have established checkpoints in their communities and have shot and wounded travelers who fail to stop. When approaching a checkpoint, regardless of whether