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They want to remain unidentified due to their work and lifestyle.

“Taxi cartels are thing. They can lock you in if you don’t pay what they want. It’s known how they are and they do this to force you to pay. They ask for insane rates. It can get scary. If you don’t pay they could get security [cops] involved, and you don’t want to have to pay more extortion to them or potentially end up in jail, just for someone harassing you.”

While they mentioned how they met many nice people, and point out that many people never have anything bad happened, they say that the common issue of taxi harassment and danger is a known fact of life in Tulum. And that’s on top of the gang violence and corruption Mexico is sadly known to have.

“It’s horrible how crazy it is there. Everything is corrupt. I kept the windows rolled down the whole taxi ride and then I’d open the door when I arrived as I went to pay, just to have an out if they hassled about the price, which happened. It’s not ok and then there’s no one to help.”

“Tulum in particular has become a center for drug consumption in the Riviera Maya. Ten gangs have carved up sales in the area, Mr. Montes de Oca said, and when they encroach on each other’s territory, what “begins as a minor crime, selling drugs, ends in tragedy.” New York Times, February 2022

In a piece about the shooting and culture, the Daily Beast writes how it’s not called ‘bribery’ at parties and events, it’s called ‘tips.’

This person was also at the fatal Vagalume Halloween shooting on Halloween evening 2020.  One person died in their arms as others were writhing in the ground injured. The shooting left two dead and three injured, according to reports. The night started with an estimated 500 people dancing and partying on a beautiful Tulum night.

They recounted what it was like after the shooting.

“It was a while before I heard any sirens, maybe 10 minutes. There were like 20 rounds. It was horrible. But help didn’t come right away at all. And then when I got home that night as we slept someone broke into our place and stole lots of stuff. Thankfully that was all though.”

While the world was concerned about the super spreader event there at Art with Me a couple weeks later, sadly the uptick in local violent crime and general criminal atmosphere hasn’t gotten as much.  It’s a sad fact that when victims are locals it gets less press attention around the world.

“There was an 80% increase in intentional killings in 2021. While it once was easy to avoid cartel violence if you stayed away from drugs in Mexico, shootings involving cartels in clubs and restaurants popular with tourists have become common.