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In yet another chapter of the drug war which is taking place across portions of the Mexico state of Veracruz, we now see a well orchestrated attack on a bar in the coastal town of Coatzacoalcos.
Media reports indicated attackers, opened fire on the Caballo Blanco (White Horse) bar and then threw Molotov cocktails inside. The result was as many as 23 may have died and another 13 badly injured.
In April, a similar attack happened some 22 kms up the road in Minatitlán, when gunmen opened fire on a birthday celebration killing more than a dozen people.
The inter-cartel drug war is very real, and the violence associated can and will appear at any time.
While neither of these cities - Minatitlán or Coatzacoalcos are well known tourists destinations, they are cities which do draw tourists, especially the beaches of Coatzacoalcos.
The location of the bars in both Minatitlán and Coatzacoalcos were not in the areas of the respective cities known for tourists or business travelers to congregate.
What it does emphasize is that travelers need to keep abreast of current travel advisories and updates.
Currently the U.S. Department of State lists the state of Veracruz Mexico as a Level 2 risk, requiring increased caution due to crime, and no restrictions on U.S. government employee travel to the state.
A traveler would have been better served before venturing out to garner advice from one’s host or reliable source of information on the local dynamics and what areas of a given city/neighborhood to avoid.
