Cartel violence in Cancun continues in 2018 with 55 executions registered in the first 50 days of the year.

With new killings registered on Monday, February 19, the total number for 2018 is now at 55. In 2017, it took five months to reach this same figure, according to the state prosecutor’s office.

As previously reported by Breitbart Texas, the ongoing violence has been attributed by government officials to the cartel wars over the disputed lucrative drug markets by CJNG, Los Zetas, Gulf, and independent groups loyal to the Sinaloa Cartel. Breitbart Texas has also been advised by Mexican law enforcement sources speaking on the condition of anonymity that local officials are unable to weed out corrupt law enforcement elements in the popular beach resort areas. Breitbart Texas previously reported on this problem with 60 municipal police being fired for extorting bribes from tourists and engaging in other criminal activities.

As a result of the government crackdown, local police have come under escalated cartel attacks like a recent incident when unknown gunmen fired numerous rounds at the home of a municipal officer on February 19, according to local reports. No injuries were reported in the recent incident but in 2018 thus far, there have been four direct attacks against police in Cancun–including a failed grenade attack.

Cancun Homicide Cases per Year

2018 — 55+ in the first 50 days

2017 — 227

2016 — 61

2015 — 37

2014 — 21

The U.S. State Department has maintained a level 2 warning for Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur—directly impacting Cancun and Los Cabos. The level 2 advisory calls on travelers to exercise caution but does not explicitly suggest they avoid the regions.

Robert Arce is a retired Phoenix Police detective with extensive experience working Mexican organized crime and street gangs. Arce has worked in the Balkans, Iraq, Haiti, and recently completed a three-year assignment in Monterrey, Mexico, working out of the Consulate for the United States Department of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Program, where he was the Regional Program Manager for Northeast Mexico (Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas.)