A day at the beach is supposed to be a relaxing good time. But with cartel members killing indiscriminately—often with the collusion of local government leaders—while law-abiding citizens are disarmed, some of Mexico’s popular beaches are feeling the threat of violence.
An article published in Bloomberg reports that tourist hubs like Los Cabos and Cancun are seeing an increase in homicides. Local community and business leaders fear a loss in revenue as potential travelers learn that these pristine locations are no longer safe.
Real-estate developer Carlos Mimenza has responded by hiring a 200-man team—he coyly refuses to say whether they carry guns—to protect himself and his investments. Wealthy entrepreneurs are learning the lesson that they have to look to their own safety and cannot trust the government for help—but where does this leave the average citizen, for whom the luxury of hiring armed security is out of reach?