A Spanish YouTuber says he was stabbed in the leg by a drug dealer while on vacation in Tulum. The 21-year-old Spaniard has shared details about the frightening altercation on his social media accounts. Tulum, a popular resort located in southern Quintana Roo, has garnered worldwide attention in recent months over rising crime rates.
The 21-year-old Spaniard was vacationing in Tulum with friends when the shocking incident occurred. According to the YouTuber, the group was enjoying their day on a popular Tulum beach when a drug dealer approached them and tried to sell them illicit substances. After refusing to purchase drugs from the criminal, the dealer became infuriated, and a heated discussion ensued between the criminal and the travelers.
After the verbal fight broke out, the victim and his friends attempted to abandon the beach in an attempt to avoid the drug dealer. However, the criminal, who was carrying a sharp weapon, followed the group, who was trying to reach a nearby restaurant. The frightening ordeal reached a dramatic end when the drug dealer pulled out a knife and stabbed the Spanish YouTuber in the leg before he was able to reach the restaurant.
Luckily, the visitor wasn’t alone at the time, and his friends, presumably also from Spain, were able to help the injured tourist. When the fight broke out, his friends initially tried to intervene, but the assailant was extremely aggressive and threatening. The drug dealer also physically assaulted one member of the entourage before finally attacking the YouTuber.
The victim was stabbed once in the left leg and was able to prevent the second stabbing in his abdomen. Fortunately, the attack didn’t lead to life-threatening injuries, and the victim was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received medical attention.
In his social media accounts, the YouTuber said that his vacation had been completely ruined, despite not doing anything to deserve the predicament. The victim insists that throughout the altercation, he merely tried to calm down the perpetrator. On his Twitter page, the Spanish visitor shared a picture of his injuries at a local hospital, where he is receiving medical supervision.
The attack occurred in Tulum, one of the most popular resort destinations in the Mexican Caribbean. Located some 130 kilometers south of Cancun, Tulum is mostly known for its ancient Mayan ruins and pristine beaches. In recent months, the town has also been making the headlines for a far more sinister reason: soaring crime rates. In a recent incident, bodies were recovered from Tulum’s hotel zone, shocking tourists in the area.
Most high-profile incidents occur due to fighting between different organized crime groups. Over the summer, the federal government deployed more troops to locations around the Mexican Caribbean to protect tourists, including in Tulum. Even though the season has already ended, there are still thousands of armed guards from the Mexican Army as well as the National Guard, a specialized body created in 2019 to fight organized crime in the country.
The Mexican Caribbean is currently under a level 2 travel advisory, according to the U.S Department of State. This means that while travel there is overall safe, visitors should exercise increased precaution. Tourists can follow a few simple tips to ensure a safe trip. Travelers should avoid walking alone outside at night, when pickpockets are more active and armed violence is more likely. Moreover, tourists should stick to resort zones as well as patrolled public beaches.
This week’s stabbing is an unpleasant reminder that, although rare, organized crime can sometimes affect tourists directly. Authorities are now hoping to bring down crime rates as the Mexican Caribbean continues to welcome millions of tourists.
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