hellonearthblog.com reminds us that Acapulco is “no stranger to drug violence.” The once-popular tourist spot was ground zero when the intra-cartel offensive began in 2006. Surprisingly, the city has remained popular with local tourists “despite high profile murders and kidnappings, which usually occur on the outskirts of the tourist zone.” Maybe that’s because the over-supply has cratered prices. “Hotel occupancy in the tourist zones have recently been reported around 75%. The non-tourist zone has dipped to around 32%. Acapulco was listed as the 2nd most dangerous city in the world in 2012 by The Citizen Council for Public Safety and Justice.” The images of the killings—enabled by guns supplied via the Mexican Military and Police (via US sales)—-are schocking beyond belief (Google “Acapulco crime with safe search off.) Here’s a more visually palatable roundup of the effect of America’s War on Drugs on Elvis’ former hang . . .
In recent days violence has seen an uptick in Acapulco and surrounding areas.
June 30 – Two men, (one identified as Rafael Antonio Barreto Arizmendi, 22 years of age and a computer engineer, and an unidentified passenger who had tattoos on his arms) were killed and finished with grace shots in the head after being assaulted at the OXXO store in the town of Tunzingo, in the rural area of Acapulco. A gunman waited and shot them. Authorities counted 25 shell casings at the scene.
June 30 – Acapulco – Body found, unknown male, beside a stream in La Mica. The head of the body showed signs of having been crushed with a heavy rock. The victim was face down, wearing plaid bermuda white and a green shirt.
June 30 – 17 people were kidnapped from their homes in the municipality of Cocula, in northern Guerrero.
June 30 – A man was killed inside a small bakery in Acapulco. Gunmen arrived at the establishment and fired on those who were working at the time.
June 30 – Unknown subject shot and killed, age 20 to 25 years old, on Calle La Cima, a few meters from the Iguana Park in Acapulco.
June 30 – A young man between 16 and 18 years old was gunned down on the sidewalk in Acapulco.
July 1 – About 22:00 on July 1 on the federal highway Mexico – Acapulco, authorities found the body of a male person aged 25 to 30 years old. It was reported that armed men clashed, resulting in apparently two other people killed or injured, but minutes after the fact men arrived and took them to an unknown destination, leaving only one of the bodies at the scene.
July 3 – A young male was executed outside of a home.
July 4 – Eight young men were gunned down outside of Acapulco in the town of Coyuca de Benitez. Five were minors. The victims were stated to be huffing paint and glue at the time.
July 4 -In Acapulco a man was executed at his home. His body was found inside a car Chevrolet Cavalier.
July 6 – A group of armed men stormed into an upscale subdivision of the municipality of Acapulco, known as Las Gaviotas, leaving two soldiers dead, including a woman, and five seriously injured.
July 6 – In the village of El Quemado, in the rural municipality of Acapulco, on the old road to La Banana, found the body of Rodrigo Hernandez Tacuba. 24 year old male.
July 6 – About 23:00 in Colonia Juan R. Escudero in Acapulco, a man who was shot, and later died due to the severity of his injuries. Gunmen attacked him and then fled.
July 7 to 8 – Six people executed during Sunday and Monday. One victim was a man left hanging from the bridge that is located outside the Benito Juarez Primara Garita colony.
July 8 – The body of Juan Carlos Soberanis Altamirano, 18 year old student, was found dead in Acapulco. The body showed signs of torture and beating.
July 10 – A man between 20 and 25 years old, was shot outside the Central de Abastos, on Avenida El Quemado. He wore blue jeans and red shirt.
July 11 – An unidentified man was found shot dead in Acapulco. He wore blue jeans, blue shirt, and blue tennis shoes. Estimated at 40 years old.
July 12 – Public transport driver between 20 and 25 years old was shot dead in Acapulco.