Scenic Sinaloa: The Center of Mexico's Drug War
Looks like shark attacks aren't the only thing travelers have to fear when visiting Mexico. The country has been caught in a deadly war with drug traffickers for nearly two years now.
Thousands of people have died and much of the country has descended into complete and utter lawlessness as drug cartels battle the police. The situation South of the Border has gotten so bad, that yesterday Mexican President Felipe Calderon appealed to the United States to do more to help him fight the drug gangs. He says the "American narcotics market is the biggest in the world" and fuels much of the violence and chaos in his country.
Traditional Mexican tourism may soon have to be replaced with drug war adventure trips. This week, Time gave us an idea of what that might look like with a "Postcard From Culiacan." Writer Ioan Grillo visited Sinaloa, the "cradle of Mexico's narco-trafficking industry" and found churches with shrines dedicated to drug dealers, ornamental opium poppies and stores advertising "Mafia clothes" that sell gold chains and alligator boots to young thugs. Sounds killer!
Related Stories:
· Mexico's Drug War Goes "Behind Enemy Lines" [Time]
· Mexico's Drug Wars Have Cost Thousands of Lives [Houston Chronicle]
· Mexican President Says US Must Help [Houston Chronicle]
· Mexico Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Time]
