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Businesses and hotels in Playa del Carmen are urging authorities to take stronger action to prevent violent crime from further escalating following the death of two Canadian citizens this week. The security situation in Playa del Carmen’s hotels is a major concern for the area amidst the busy summer season. As a result, more troops and law enforcement personnel have been deployed to tackle organized crime in the popular destination.
Playa del Carmen enjoys a reputation as a laid-back and fun destination, but the area’s crime situation remains alarming and hotels and businesses in the area are asking the government to step up security measures to keep visitors safe. The request comes on the heels of a brutal armed robbery that led to the death of two Canadian citizens in a Playa del Carmen condo on Monday.
Businesses in the area are now urging authorities to take stronger action to protect tourists in the area and prevent violent crime from further escalating. Lenin Amaro Betancourt, president of the Riviera Maya Council for Business Coordination, says that the industry is highly concerned due to the violent nature of recent incidents. “It is necessary to protect the entire zone, there cannot be unpatrolled areas, and having multiple forces present around Playa del Carmen can help deter illegal acts”, Armano Betancourt said in a statement to Sipse.
On Monday, two individuals, presumably Canadian tourists, were killed in a condo near the city center following an attempted armed robbery in the propetry. Betancourt says that the high-profile incident must be thoroughly investigated as the case could potentially be linked to organized crime. The state public attorney has announced that it has begun the preliminary work in determining the cause and background behind the horrific incident.
Crime affecting tourists is especially worrisome since Quintana Roo and Playa del Carmen have already seen more troops patrol busy tourist areas. Now, with further cases making the headlines, the reputation of the popular tourist destination may take a further hit. As such, it is crucial that authorities take the appropriate measures to keep tourists safe during the busy summer period.
Playa del Carmen is just one of the tourist hotspots in Quintana Roo that is seeing an alarming rise in crime numbers. It was recently reported that armed robberies remain at a high level, with tourists occasionally targeted by organized crime. An armed robbery occurred last week in Isla Mujeres when six thieves robbed several tourists at gunpoint and injured a member of the Mexican army.
Due to increased rates of armed robbery in recent months, authorities have issued recommendations to protect visitors. Tourists should avoid walking in isolated and dark streets at night, and should be extra cautious when outside resort areas. The U.S Department of State has also advised Americans in the area to exercise increased caution.
More Troops Patrolling Playa del Carmen Beaches And Popular Tourist Areas
In addition to local police forces that regularly patrol the area, reinforcements from state and national law agencies are also on duty to improve safety in Playa del Carmen. Several institutions are coordinating their efforts to create a more effective security strategy to target organized crime and other sources of illegal activity.
100 members of the National Secretary for Defence (Sedena) and 130 troops proceeding from the National Guard were recently deployed to busy tourist hotspots including Playa del Carmen and Cancun, where they will help patrol crime-prone areas. Armed forces personnel are also present in Tulum and Benito Juárez. Despite recent incidents, state authorities insist that tourists are rarely affected by crime, let alone violent crime.
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