Tourist Hot Spot Cancun Sees 14 Killed In Just 36 Hours As Gang Violence Overruns The City

A Mexican tourist spot popular with Brits has become overrun with gang violence resulting in 14 murders in 36 hours, according to reports.

Cancun, a tourist party town, is experiencing unprecedented levels of gang crime with six violent attacks ending in the deaths of 14 people and injuring five more, Noticaribe reports.

The news outlet says 4 April had the highest number of murders in the city's history, as drug gangs battle over territory - the previous record was nine executions in one day back in 2004.

According to the Sun, over 100 people have died in Cancun since the beginning of this year as cartels spread throughout Mexico.

In the first half of 2017 there were 169 killings in Cancun alone, over double the number for the previous year.

Despite this, Cancun remains popular with tourists who go there for the beautiful beaches and legendary party scene.

However, authorities say this recent spate of gang violence is threating the multi-billion dollar industry.

SBS's Dateline sent journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy out to Mexico to investigate the violence that's rampant through the country. Speaking while on a beach in Cancun, he said the beach was one of the most beautiful in the world, but just hours later found himself caught up in a crime scene when four men rushed into a luxury hotel and attacked a man. The man later died in hospital.

Guru-Murthy says he was shocked by the lack of police in some areas; with tourists just yards away from grisly crime-scenes without even realising.

"It's as if the police don't want anyone to notice. There's minimum fuss and hardly any officers here," he said.

Adding: "We've been told that local politicians here have put the press under pressure not to report violence in this area, because if the tourists are scared away from here, it will be an economic disaster not only for Cancun, but for Mexico."

The US has issued a 'level 2' advisory, according to the Sun, which urges travellers to 'exercise increased caution'.

Sources: The Sun; SBS Dateline; Noticaribe

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, Mexico

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19