The staff was friendly and the food was good. In . On Aug. 30, the Mexican government sent 200 additional state and federal law enforcement officers to Nogales in response to the situation. 1:31. After ten minutes or so of the line-shoving, our conversation partner asked what was going on. As with any big city (in the US or elsewhere in the world) watch where you are. In 2010, the municipality had a population of 264,782 people spread out over 714.2 km2. The state's massive gold mines provide other opportunities for criminal profits. Just 65 miles south of Tucson, in the border city of Nogales, Sonora, bloodshed fueled by narco-trafficking has reached unprecedented levels and officials don't know when, or whether, it will slow down. I would like to do a big border town trip, 1-3 days per border town. Nogales is the most populous city in the state of Sonora. For reasons that still arent clear, as the women were following the orders, the perpetrator with the gun suddenly discharged his weapon. Yes, there is Uber in Merida and Yucatan state though there's no Uber in the other Yucatan Peninsula states of Campeche and Quintana Roo. My youngest was stared at by many because her hair was long and silky soft, funny one ladybwtopped walking on the widewalk and asked if she may touch her hair. These estimates are based on only a few data points. Recent arrests of drug kingpins have caused division and strife between gangs, making violent crime all the more likely. 1-2+ hours waiting in the pedestrian line. I dont like the idea of walking into Mexico, and would prefer to drive. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. That means the homicide crime rate was 29 per 100,000 in 2020. Oh were over the age of 62, was the scornful reply to us rabble still waiting in line. Stroll across the border like it really isnt a border. Americans with plans to go to 11 other Mexican states should reconsider, the agency says. Adjacent to the US states of Arizona and New Mexico, the region is an important corridor for the movement of drugs, guns and people. The deadly 2008 tally in Nogales has already surpassed the 2007 total, 52, and nearly doubled the 2005 total, 35, figures from the Sonoran government show. "I find myself with the need to ask you, the heads of the cartels in Sonora[Jos Crispn] Salazar, [Rafael] Caro Quintero and the rest of you cartel leaders, to not kill us, to not disappear us, said Ceci Patricia Flores Armenta, who is the head of Madres Buscadoras de Sonora. First of all, the rumors of gun battles in the streets and drug trafficking on every corner are simply not true. I wanted to go to Mexico since we were so close to the border. Nogales, city, seat (1899) of Santa Cruz county, southern Arizona, U.S. A port of entry on the Mexican border, it adjoins Heroica Nogales in Sonora, Mexico. There was lots of complaining and angry looks. Health care is cited by between 150,000 and 320,000 Americans as a reason for traveling abroad. Im not sure, maybe the WP formatting changed. Traditionally, most of the deceased and injured in drug- related violence have been identified as people involved in the drug-trafficking business. Clashes among proxies for the two cartels have occurred for control of criminal activities along Sonora's northern border. "Working at the ports of entry securing our . {Photographer: Brett Gundlock/Bloomberg). Like the county-owned (and confusingly similar in name) Nogales International Airport (OLS IATA) in Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona it has no scheduled flights.The nearest airports for commercial flights from Mexico are . Nogales: downtown, yep The local newspaper in Nogales, Mexico, reported 365 murders in 2021. Prior to that, I typically stayed at Fray Marcos de Niza which is right on Campillo. Having lived in Tombstone AZ when I was in 8th and 9th grade, we made a trip to Nogales whenever family would come to visit us (1990-92). . We left our car in a lot on the U.S. side of Nogales and walked across the border. Nogales is in the state of Sonora, one of the most dangerous places in Mexico. Yeah I wouldnt be going for any of the hard drugs. A small federally-owned airport with a single runway for general aviation. Olivia Ainza-Kramer, president of the Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, says the increased violence has been exaggerated. Law enforcement officials say the tunnels are used by traffickers to smuggle drugs and people across the border. One case is Acapulco, which is one of the cities with higher rates in federal crimes and executions, and its inhabitants, until 2009, were . Why are Criminal Dynamics Constantly Changing in Tamaulipas, Mexico? Drug traffickers brought violence to spring-break meccas, shooting up nightclubs and leaving bodies in suitcases outside exclusive condos. Airports - Nogales International Airport is an international airport located at Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border. My BFF & I go to shop, lots of cheap & unique stuff. State Officials Targeted as CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel Clash in Zacatecas, Mexico. There was some kind of protest going on in front of the border on the USA side. The shop owners laugh & tell me how smart I am. I travel there frequently, at least once every month or two. Summary of cost of living in Nogales. Number of murders committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Mexico from 2009 to 2021. To be more specific, in 2016, the rate of violent crimes in Nogales was lower than the national rate by 22.48%. Our work is costly and high risk. But I wonder if parking is a problem, and my car is very nice and I am worried a bit about that too. . The current travel alert expires in October, at which time officials must decide whether to reissue it and whether to revise any of the warnings. Once you have found a few different options, you can then compare them to see which one is the best fit for you. Lunch or dinner? The risk of being robbed by a pickpocket is possible here. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. They were both handcuffed and whisked away to a police station 5 miles south of the border, where they had a trial in front of a judge (no representation), and shaken down for all the money they had on them. WARNING! In addition, the rate of property crime was one-third that of the overall rate of crime in the state. . I agreed and she loved how soft her hair was. I look forward to checking out some of the spots from your blog. ", Edisons Solar Power Prediction, Elon Musks $100 Billion Loss And Green Gas From Landfills, The Pandemic Has Changed The Supply Chain Management Profession Forever, Greener Industrial Chemicals, EV Fleet Challenges And Teslas Record Deliveries, Grid And Charging Speed Bumps Ahead As Amazon, FedEx And Transit Fleets Go Electric, Gatik Goes Driverless In Canada For Grocery Giant Loblaws, Why Dont You Have A Self-Driving Car Yet? Because most purchases are expected to come with Haggling, you should not be afraid to make an offer. And so far, no gunbattles or chases have spilled over the border into the United States. The violence perpetrated by the Chapitos and associates appears to be the source of tension within the Sinaloa Cartel, according to organized crime expert and journalist Anabel Hernndez, who spoke to InSight Crime at the beginning of 2021. 2023 Copyright by Travel Safe - Abroad. Travelers come here to see the Ecological center of Sonora with a great variety of flora and fauna of the different ecosystems and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. I havent done it myself. Zambada's operators are primarily located in the northern part of the state, where they profit from drug smuggling. Living here, Ive learned which pharmacies I can trust. The frequency of the killings increased to one nearly every other day from June through August, when 39 killings occurred. On the border, any traveler . Mexican President Felipe Caldern's campaign to weaken the cartels by putting the army along known drug-smuggling routes and trying to snuff out corruption has added fuel to the fire, Coulson says. the National Travel & Tourism Office says, and State Department data shows. I found this info to be very helpful, as I will be in Southern AZ a week from now. A fun casual time. Unidentified subjects kidnapped the three, and the tale turns gruesome from there. This past Wednesday, unidentified assailants got away with murder when they killed a police officer. ", Kidnappings are common, and there have been allegations of complicity by police officers," the Australian government says. The man, however, was nowhere to be found. According to the Mexican Statistical Agency (INEGI) in Mexico there were a total of 36,773 homicides in 2020, according to the SESNSP there were a total of 34,555 murders that same year. Violence that used to fill newspapers and airwaves in other parts of Mexico, such as Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, is now occurring in this border city of nearly 200,000 people: beheadings, execution-style killings, bodies found wrapped in duct tape with messages for rival drug traffickers, shootouts in such public places as bus stops and restaurant parking lots. We went to Nogales, Mexico yesterday with a group of friends. Current as of Feb 2023. It is against the rules to bring any personal items. Nogales is in the 10th percentile for safety, meaning 90% of cities are safer and 10% of cities are more dangerous. The municipality has a hot desert climate (Kppen climate classification BWh), with average temperatures of 27C in the day and 10C at night. Weve been going there for several years from Green Valley, Arizona. The crime does spill over, though. A few blocks away, on Pirgos Street, the kidnappers told the victims to get out of the vehicle. Kidnapping is common in Nogales, people can be detained for a long time and forced to withdraw money from an ATM. How were the dental services? Mexico is a popular destination for purchasing prescription medications without a doctors prescription. Change). Just walk through the turnstile and thats it. I am moving to Scottsdale this week (original east coast / 1 year in San Diego) and was considering spending time in Tucson / going to Nogales before I start my job. No meters, so ask the fare before getting in taxi. I have to agree with Nikki Spaulding and also sorry your experience to Nogales was not that good for you. We also noticed tourists bypassing our line to go stand in a line with a big sign overhead that stated Sentri Only. I wonder why no one else was in that line? E-mails have circulated among residents about what to do if they find themselves stopped by suspected drug traffickers. De Dios and his wife have stopped going out on weekends with their two children because of the increased violence. From the looks of things, its only getting worse. The neighborhood near the border crossing is full of shops and street vendors that tourists must visit. After the Thanksgiving holiday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the nation's largest federal law enforcement agency charged with securing the nation's borders and facilitating international travel and trade. Nogales is a great place to see the sights and experience the culture of Mexico. Chihuahua is the closest Mexican passenger train station to the United States. Crossing the border was as simple as could be. A radio station told residents about a 10 p.m. curfew. Visiting Nogales made us realize just how rich we really are on the other side of the border. I would say to everyone, no matter where you visit, always be aware of your surroundings, do your research. They are most worried about a potential shootout between cartels and police crossing the international line. I appreciate your comment and like you said WATCH YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Groups aligned with the Chapitos such as the Salazar and Gente Nueva as well as smaller cells like the Cazadores and the Rumas have a presence throughout almost the entire state and have been involved in acts of public violence, threats against locals and brutal murders. Since the ruptureof an alliance between the Sinaloa Cartel and the BLO in 2008, the networks associated with Chapo Isidro have been in continuous conflict with the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel. By Cecilia Ball. with a quarter which is about 5 pesos. We going to check it out. Most of all, enjoy your visit. Once on the line there is no way to turn around. Nogales is the epicenter, accounting for 60 percent of all drugs that come into Arizona, he says. This municipalitys 2010 population was 264,782 people. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox. I know i was stared at occasionally but in a good way because i am white with blonde hair and speak spanish. Be wary of beverages and snacks offered by taxi drivers, strangers or new acquaintances, because they "may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery," the government advises. If you want to protect yourself from the dangers of methamphetamine use, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) advises that you declare any prescription medications you bring into Mexico for personal use to customs. The main driving point of crime is a large number of drug cartels moving into the city. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Im from the East Coast & have been to Nogales 4 times & felt perfectly safe as well. I have visited Nogales many times. I ended up moving here in August of 2018. The Arizona city has suffered an enormous economic impact from the border closure. Before you travel, you should learn the rules so that you dont face any problems when crossing the border into the United States. Fun to read. Americans cross the border to go to the dentist and buy cheap prescription drugs and and then leave. The city was ranked as one of the 5 best cities to live in Mexico. The Ambos Nogales binational region is strategically located as Mexico's gateway to Arizona and the entire Western United States. Ive seen CBP make them wait or send them back. No one but Joey and I were wearing hats. I think all the cartel rhetoric has stopped many from visiting, but I have seen more violence on our side of the border in Tucson and Phoenix. I also have a significant other who lives in nogales now. Because the Mexican drug cartels have infiltrated almost every level of society, its easy to see why they would target Nogales residents for cartel-related crimes. Children and adults alike all wanted a dollar. As with any city you always have yo be kind and courteous to all when visiting. It's open warfare between them.". Nogales is the epicenter, accounting for 60 percent of all drugs that come into Arizona, he says. This means that this municipality has the largest per capita murder rates in the world. 2010 City Crime Rate Rankings places Phoenix in #135 out of 400 cities . I made many friends over the years of visiting. If you want a real Mexican experience-go to Mexico! Strolling through Tucson and Sedona's perfectly maintained sidewalks can spoil a person. In comparison to Arizona, the property crime rate in Nogales is 16.32%, which is still lower than the state average. It felt weird crossing the border back into the U.S. without anything to declare. Officials aren't telling Arizonans to stop traveling to Mexico, but they say travelers should be aware of the situation. Violent crime increased 46.4% in 2020, according to the Mexico Peace Index. I have stayed on both sides of the border with no issues. Nogales is safe enough, but here, every foreigner is closely watched, as if under a magnifying glass. So far, the turf battles have not spilled over into residential areas in Santa Cruz County, Estrada says. Millions of Americans visit the country annually without incident, but, if you heed the most recent government warnings and data, you may want to think twice about heading south of the border. So far, the turf battles have not spilled over into residential areas in Santa Cruz County . Tamaulipas, borders the USA. The cartels are no longer waging their battles in back alleys or inside homes, Coulson says. Its also not a stretch to say that Nogales is the worst smelling place Ive ever visited. Theres a very rich and diverse culture just over the border. ompanies that have established maquiladoras (factory in Mexico run by a foreign company) in Nogales include Continental AG, The Chamberlain Group, Walbro, General Electric. I dont have any experience with the others. The people are the same as in anywhere. We were left in a line talking to what was probably a soldier not supposed to be there. Nogales, is not a tourist town. Come to find out a taxi driver accused me of running off and not paying him, he was lying! The consequences of careless behavior in the city can lead to kidnapping, carjacking, and even murder. As a female, I can say that I feel safe. At around 1:40 AM Wednesday, police stopped to investigate a person lying in the street outside a local bar. Our crime rates here are lower than the average for Tucson," said Hathaway. It is in a hacienda-like shopping arcade with quality items, has a mariachi band and the best food in Nogales. Shootouts and kidnappings, once isolated incidents among rival drug cartels, have become more frequent and public in Nogales, Sonora: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Name, email and comment will be stored in our database. Back home my teachers salary and side gigs dont seem like much, but just across the border, its truly wealthy. I am curious as to where you got your information from about Nogales. The case is still developing, and police are trying to put all the pieces together. We love to hike, hunt for crystals and minerals, and visit historic sites and ruins scattered throughout the southwest. Most of what I read was not very favorable for Nogales which I thought was pretty unfair considering I had a great time during the day and at night. ! I look nothing like her, but I assumed shes the only famous black woman hes familiar with. Make Your Trip To Tijuana Airport (TIJ) A Breeze With This Guide, Everything You Need To Know About Obtaining A Medical Pass In Tijuana Mexico, Finding Pain Relief In Tijuana: Exploring The Availability Of Medications And Precautions To Take, Exploring The History Of Migration To Tijuana: From The 19th Century To The Present. Clothing, art, and spices are available for purchase in a variety of shops and markets. There is no comparison!!! There were a few yellow boots on the tires of several vehicles. Ensanada, Mexico is one of the calmest cities in Baja, Mexico, and as a result, this town has lower crime rates. Yes and no. You have a very good chance of being pulled into secondary if you dont have proof or passport. The only thing I agree with is the border line. I was amazed with the scenery and was happy when I saw the wall. God bless you. Weve lived near the border for over two years now and its definitely not as bad as the media claims. We werent asked for a passport, or to declare anything. I just finished my first trip there after living in Arizona for 11 years and had a really wonderful time in Nogales. To us rabble still waiting in line then leave of 264,782 people spread out over 714.2.... Line to go stand in a good way because i am curious as to you! 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