Germany issues travel alert to its citizens for Veracruz due to violence

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Latin American region of the Government of Germany recommended special care to its citizens who consider trips by land in the State of Veracruz in the face of the crime wave that lives this entity of the Mexican southeast.

Among the places with the highest rate of violence, the document mentioned Veracruz, Puebla, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Colima, and Guerrero.

This is the second time that this European country issued an alert for travelers to Mexico. The first was released on February 21, 2018, given the increase in violence in Mexico due to the electoral environment that culminated on July 1.

This time, the second section of the study "Mexico: information on travel and security" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred in a textual manner that "the security situation in many parts of the country is constantly getting worse".

"There is a growing number of armed clashes between criminal gangs in various parts of Mexico and more frequently. Travelers have witnessed these conflicts and in some cases have been injured. After a series of violent attacks, police protection has increased in public buses, but the residual risk continues, "says the publication.

It is strongly discouraged to travel to the following regions and cities:

Border region with the United States. The stay there should be limited to the minimum required for entry or exit State of Tamaulipas.

The state of Sinaloa, excluding Mazatlan, there Golden Zone and historic center, by direct arrival and departure by plane and Los Mochis/railway line of "El Chepe".

The state of Colima, except Manzanillo, arrives by boat or plane.

The state of Guerrero, except Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, when traveling by plane and the city of Taxco, provided that arrival and departure are made in daylight.

Special care is advised:

For trips by land.

When traveling to the states of Veracruz, Guanajuato, and Puebla.

Visits to the districts of Tepito, Doctores, Lagunilla, Venustiano Carranza, Gustavo A. Madero and Iztapalapa of Mexico City.

In the text, he adds: the security situation in many parts of Mexico is constantly getting worse.

Violent crimes, as a result of serious, growing, and widespread crimes, are common, but there are also more and more robberies, kidnappings, homicides, and acts of revenge related to organized crime in central locations and during the day, but especially at night in the environment.

Nightclubs, bars, and restaurants

It can also be non-involved damage. Due to the widespread presence of organized crime in Mexico, the security situation in some states is very critical and tense in others.

The travel alert warned that Germans visiting Mexico will be able to witness clashes between security forces and organized crime in cities such as Veracruz, Tijuana, Acapulco, Victoria, Ciudad Juárez, Irapuato, and Cancún.

Throughout Mexico, greater caution is advised. The most common crimes are robberies, robberies, and temporary kidnappings. Police forces or uniformed security personnel or criminals posing as such can, in principle, be involved in criminal offenses. For strangers, travelers should be reluctant to provide personal information.

Violence against women has increased, not least, in tourist regions. Therefore, women should not travel alone, especially at night and in isolated areas. Sexual assaults should be reported immediately to the nearest department of the "Public Prosecutor's Office" (Prosecutor's Office).