Criminal drug ring nabbed, gangbanger killed near popular Cancún resort frequented by U.S. tourists
A criminal drug ring in Mexico that frequently terrorized a resort near Cancún popular with American tourists was dismantled following an undercover sting operation by law enforcement.
The state attorney general’s office in Quintana Roo reported that the undercover operation, carried out in a hotel located in Costa Mujeres, in the Continental Zone – aka the Hotel Zone – nabbed a criminal drug-dealing gang, whose members, they say, “constantly came to this establishment to demand services and threaten staff and sell drugs.”
The agency said that upon arriving at the lodging center in the pool’s bathroom area, police agents were attacked by two alleged members of the gang, who were carrying firearms.
One of the alleged criminals lost his life after attempting to attack the agents, while another was arrested. Investigators also seized two firearms, one of them described as exclusive to the military.
Following the altercation, police searched to find the other gang members. Reports show the incident allegedly happened at the Riu Palace hotel in Costa Mujeres, though the resort would not confirm if this was related to its establishment.
This latest incident comes after a University of Pittsburgh student vanished off a beach at the Riu Republica hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during a spring break trip in March. Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Loudoun County, Virginia, was last seen walking on a beach outside the five-star resort in the early morning hours of March 6. It was later revealed that the college student went swimming during a red-flag warning with a male hotel guest, who was considered a witness in Konanki’s disappearance, but has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The parents of Konanki sent a letter to La Policia Nacional, the Dominican national police force, nearly two weeks following their daughter’s disappearance, stating that “Dominican authorities have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned.”
In response to these incidents, the U.S. State Department has been contacted for comment. The resort where the drug ring was dismantled stated, “This was an isolated situation, it was solved. The only person who lost his life was a suspected criminal.”
These events serve as a reminder of the dangers that can lurk in popular tourist destinations, and the importance of law enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of visitors. It is crucial for travelers to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings to avoid falling victim to criminal activities.
