Cancun has become the center of the Mexican drug cartel war. Last year, there were 359 murders, twice the year before. In January, drug related murders were 30. So far this month, March has had more murders than January. Multiple murders happened Sunday.

The U.S. State Dept. has issued a "high crime warning" advisory, advising Americans to avoid visiting Mexico.

The picture above was taken three days ago in a shopping mall in Cancun.

Here is the State Department's Travel Advisory from Friday:

"Mexico – Level 2: Exercise increased caution

Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico as U.S. government employees are prohibited from travel to these areas."

This advisory is updated every Friday at:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html

If you choose to go anyway, these are special considerations for high risk travelers:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/high-risk-travelers.html

On Thursday, explosive devices were found on a tourist ferry that runs between the Caribbean resorts of Playa del Carmen and the Island of Cozumel. The devices failed to explode.

On Feb. 21st, another ferry, going the same way, exploded injuring 19 Mexicans and five American citizens.

http://quintanaroohoy.com/2018/02/21/reportan-explosion-en-banco-caribe-quintana-ro/

http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-narco-violence-tourist-hubs-playa-del-carmen-cancun-2018-3

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/gunmen-in-mexico-kill-drug-suspect-at-hospital-in-cancun/2018/03/05/9d6ee682-208f-11e8-946c-9420060cb7bd_story.html?utm_term=.e6ae95db422a

Sunday, two people were killed and three more shot in different areas of Cancun. A dead body was found inside a bathroom in a school under construction in a kindergarten of Nueva Creación in El Porvenir.

http://noticaribe.com.mx/2018/03/11/domingo-violento-en-cancun-dos-asesinatos-y-tres-baleados-en-diferentes-incidentes-en-la-ciudad/

http://noticaribe.com.mx/2018/03/11/hallan-cadaver-de-un-hombre-en-kinder-en-construccion-en-la-colonia-el-porvenir-de-cancun/

Yesterday at 6:45 p.m., Juan Antonio was shot twice in the head, two more in the thorax, and received multiple stab wounds. The incident occurred next to the French Institute of Cancun. Antonio is in critical condition. It took 40 minutes for paramedics to arrive.

http://noticaribe.com.mx/2018/03/12/sigue-la-violencia-en-cancun-ejecutan-a-una-mujer-y-una-nina-de-2-anos-resulta-herida-por-las-balas-en-el-fraccionamiento-los-heroes-de-la-region-222/

Police failed to rope off the area as a crime scene. No one from the Prosecutor's Office was seen searching for evidence.

http://noticaribe.com.mx/2018/03/12/balean-y-apunalan-a-un-joven-en-un-edificio-de-apartamentos-en-cancun-se-encuentra-grave/

Yesterday, in another incident, a woman was executed and a two-year old girl wounded. This shooting occurred in the afternoon.

A third Sunday incident happened in front of Super Aki, a supermarket. It was a gun fight. One woman died. Another person is in serious condition.

A Feb. 19th murder resulted in a beheading. This body was found naked, with the detached head placed between the victims legs. The body was found at a public park.

http://noticaribe.com.mx/2017/12/21/preliminar-reportan-decapitado-por-la-nichupte-de-cancun-junto-a-los-restos-humanos-dejan-presunta-narcomanta/

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/12/27/graphic-cartel-gunmen-leave-beheaded-man-near-cancun-beach-resort/

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2018/01/30/cancun-suffers-30-executions-january-2018-amid-rising-cartel-violence/

https://nypost.com/2018/03/12/trouble-in-paradise-cancuns-secret-murders/

Top resorts are dealing with record vacancies. A Cancun vacation now may be "almost free". Citizens are arming themselves and shooting bad guys themselves. One citizen group has claimed six successful hits on the year.