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Despite the fact that Cozumel is generally thought of as a safe vacation destination, 100 Navy officers have been deployed to the popular Mexican Caribbean city to help prevent crime. At the beginning of the month, the Secretary of Public Security of Quintana Roo, Rear Admiral Rubén Oyarvide Pedrero, paid a visit to Cozumel to address the increase in certain types of crimes in the city. At that time, he assured the community that personnel would be redistributed to support state and municipal police.
In the coming days, additional Navy personnel will continue to travel from Mexico City to Cozumel. These officers will be given the tasks of aiding in crime prevention as well as helping fight crime. Officers of the Marines Special Forces have also been sent to Cozumel and were flown in on Thursday night, just before midnight.
There have been recent reports of a lack of a sense of security among residents who live on the island of Cozumel. Alderman Juan Carlos Góngora Aké recently referred to this sentiment when asked about an execution attempt that took place on the morning of Thursday, October 13th. He stated that “there is a perception among the inhabitants of the island that the crime has grown so much that it is impossible to stop it.”
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The execution attempt allegedly involved drug traffickers and a man released from prison on that morning. As the prisoner was released from the Public Security prison, he was reportedly shot at by armed men when he was only about 20 yards from the building. The man, who escaped from the attempt on his life, claims that he did not commit a crime and that the drug dealer on the island is in collusion with both the investigative and the municipal police, although there was no evidence given to back up his claims.
While there may be some crime related to drug trafficking on the island, as there is in a number of Mexican cities, it is rare for this type of crime to directly affect tourists. There are often military or police patrolling the tourist areas to help ensure the safety of visitors to the island. The arrival of additional officers of the Navy and the Marines will further enhance the level of security that keeps tourists safe while visiting Cozumel.
Cozumel is an island in the Mexican Caribbean that sits across from the popular vacation destination of Playa del Carmen. Both places are just over two hours from Cancun, and tourists who visit Cozumel and Playa del Carmen typically fly into Cancun International Airport. Cozumel is also a popular cruise ship destination and caters to hundreds of cruise ship passengers every year as well.
Between the arrival of cruise passengers and tourists who fly into Cancun specifically to vacation in Cozumel, the tourist destination gets millions of visitors every year. Cozumel is not only known for its beautiful island beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters but for what lies below as well. The reef system is a top destination for scuba divers, as it is part of the world’s second-largest reef system, second only to the famous Great Barrier Reef.
Amidst claims from other countries, such as the U.S., that Mexico lacks safety in its vacation destinations, the presence of security elements proves their dedication to maintaining a safe place for tourists to visit. As with any popular tourist city, there will always be occasional incidents that occur, but with the Navy, Marines, and police forces keeping watch, tourists in Cozumel can continue to enjoy a safe Mexican Caribbean vacation.
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