Justice Dept. Issues Warning For Mexico, But Will Spring Breakers Listen?

Where: Mexico

March 3, 2009 at 12:41 PM | by egw | Comment (1)

Do not keep the kids away from their plentiful beer and sunshine! The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is trying to dissuade would-be Spring Break travelers from visiting cities in northern Mexico fraught with drug-related violence. But since when has a little danger stopped fun-lovin' college students?

Visitors aren't the target of the narcotraficantes of Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana, whose bloody turf wars have claimed over a thousand lives this year already. But drug gangs have been known to supplement their income with carjackings and kidnappings, and strangers from north of the border -- particularly those who may have their guard chemically lowered -- are a tempting prize.

The ATF's statement, in effect until August 20, adds to an earlier warning issued by the State Department in February which cautioned travelers to stick to main roads and avoid large crowds, and bears the stamp of the bureau's Los Angeles field division, which is concerned particularly about Baja California destination Rosarito Beach just south of San Diego. But the Rosarito Beach mayor says the popular spring break destination is perfectly safe -- it's even hosting an international surfing competition April 3-5.

We may josh about how low "safety" rests on the Spring Break destination scale, but really, if you're going to one of these places, at least read the warnings.

[Photo: paulomb]

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