Mexico: Wave of violence strikes Veracruz state

Event

At least 26 people were killed in Veracruz state between Friday, November 24, and Monday, November 27, as a renewed wave of violence swept across the state. Among the victims was the mayor of Ixhuatlán and his family, who were murdered while traveling in the town of Banderilla. The majority of the killings appear to be targeted assassinations perpetrated by narco-gangs. Further violence is likely in the coming weeks.

Context

Mexico continues to suffer from high crime rates. Much of the violence is driven by narco-trafficking. Clashes between narco-gangs and government forces are at the highest levels since former President Felipe Calderon's war against narco-trafficking (2008 to 2011). The capture and extradition of Joaquin Guzmán (El Chapo), the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, has led rival groups to attempt to take advantage of the power vacuum and establish stronger criminal networks.

Advice

Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to a large portion of Mexican territory, including Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas states, the northeastern border with the US, and, to a lesser extent, Baja California, Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, and Veracruz states.