Spring Breakers continue to hit the borders
Spring breakers hit the borders of Mexico disregarding the warning given out by the US government regarding safety. The U.S. Mission to Mexico gave out a new warning the previous week pointing out the number of citizens that visit Mexico during the break. Amongst the other crimes in the country, they also noted the list of physical and sexual crimes, assaults, and unsupervised alcohol.
The mission also cited a travel warning issued by the U.S. State Department in October 2022, which advised against visiting the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas while advising Americans to think twice about visiting another half-dozen state. Despite this, the spring breakers seemingly go on gathering at the border or near it. Many of them know the potential danger they put themselves in whereas few don’t know or don’t bother.Â
In a conversation with a few news agencies, students from South Padre Island gave mixed feelings about visiting Mexico over the break. Nicole, a student from McAllen, Texas, told me that it wasn’t in her plans to take a trip to Mexico right now. Though she mentioned that she usually does go over to buy cheap products from time to time.
According to the reports from a study conducted by UCLA examining drugs that were purchased at pharmacies, they discovered fake pills laced with fentanyl, heroin, or methamphetamines. Without a prescription, the researchers were able to purchase the tablets and discovered that at least one controlled medication was offered by 68% of the 40 pharmacies surveyed for the study.
In Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety warned the citizens about the travel, referring to the recent kidnapping of four American nationals. Of the four kidnapped, two were killed after they crossed the border allegedly in search of cheaper medical procedures. When questioned the cartel surrendered five individuals claiming that they acted without permission and were responsible for the deaths.
DPS Director Steven McCraw stated in a statement that they should educate the public about safety, travel dangers, and threats. They also advise people not to travel to Mexico at this time because of the violence there and the explosive nature of the cartel operations.
Yet, the event has persisted in drawing sizable people to the region, with college students eager to partake in the yearly cultural ritual and retreat. According to Valley Central, authorities estimated that 2.1 million tourists visited the island in March of the previous year.
DJs have been spinning tunes throughout the month on South Padre Island, with recent performances by musicians like Lil Wayne and Steve Aoki.
Warning Issued by the U.S. State Department
On 15 March the U.S. State Department sent out a travel alert to all Americans who had the plan to visit Mexico over Spring break. The warning asked travelers to exercise great caution, especially after sunset at beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, which are said to be plagued by drug gang violence before.
The Department released a Level 4 Travel Advisory for six Mexican states last October. The states listed were Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, Colima, and Michoacan.
The State Department reminded its citizens that many others have fallen severely sick or even died in Mexico post the use of illicit drugs or adulterated prescription pills.
Two Canadians died in Playa del Carmen in 2022, reportedly due to debts between multinational gangs that smuggle in drugs and guns.
In 2021, two visitors were fatally shot in the apparent crossfire of rival drug dealers in the laid-back resort city of Tulum, further south. One of the victims was a California travel blogger born in India, and the other was a German.
Fatal cases occurred during spring break.
Natalee Holloway
An 18-year-old from Alabama mysteriously disappeared on May 30, 2005, on the day she was supposed to return home. She was out celebrating her graduation party with her friends.
She was reportedly last seen around 1:30 a.m. on May 30, 2005. Authorities were never able to determine what transpired after she supposedly left a nightclub with Joran van der Sloot, brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, and Joran van der Sloot. Her body was never discovered, and no one has been charged concerning her disappearance. Legally dead since January 2012, Holloway.
Brittanee Drexel
A 17-year-old from Rochester New York vanished without a trace on a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during 2009
Drexel was last spotted moving between two motels. As she stopped responding to texts, her boyfriend in Rochester started to worry.
Her disappearance remained a mystery for more than ten years before her death was discovered in May 2022, some distance from the location of her last sighting.
Shortly after her body was discovered, her killer, Raymond Douglas Moody, was apprehended; he later admitted to kidnapping, raping, and killing Drexel.
He received life in a prison sentence.
Mark Kilroy
The 21-year-old student from the University of Texas was on spring break in March 1989 when he was abducted, tortured, and killed in a human sacrifice ritual by a Mexican cult. His body was recovered in a mass grave in April 1989.
