Remember the incident from early November (read more here) when an armed conflict took place at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun that led guests searching for shelter and two people killed?
Hyatt offered 75,000 points for the “incident” (blood money) that we covered last month. Now, Washington Post has done investigative journalism to find out what is going on in Cancun, Tulum, and Quintana Roo in general.
It turns out that the problem is with the guests who expect to get drugs that are illegal in Mexico, and hotels refer them to “trusted” local dealers.
Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun employees called the drug dealers in according to the Washington Post:
It’s a common enough request across Mexico’s Mayan Riviera that the employees of the Hyatt Ziva knew how to accommodate their clientele. They called a few local drug dealers, according to security officials who investigated the incident.
They made the mistake of calling in two rival gangs:
But the dealers who arrived at the beachside resort outside Cancún last month came from rival cartels, part of the kaleidoscope of criminal groups who have converged on Mexico’s busiest tourist corridor.
Hyatt claims that they do not know about what is taking place at their property:
The hotel denies that its staff should be blamed for the attack.
“To suggest that our associates were, in any way, involved or bear a level of responsibility for an incident that began on a public beach is unfounded and without merit,” said Dean Sullivan, a spokesman for Playa Hotels & Resorts, which manages the Hyatt.
Too many cartels operating in Quintana Roo:
Adding to the volatility: In Quintana Roo, unlike other states in Mexico, no single cartel predominates. At least six criminal groups operate in the state’s tourist corridor, including three with links to transnational trafficking organizations. The competition among them often turns violent, as groups fight over access to tourist hot spots.
Gangs are not targeting tourists:
Cartels are typically eager to avoid confrontations with tourists that will affect the local demand for drugs and draw the attention they’re now getting from security forces.
Conclusion
This Washington Post piece is excellent and worth reading for anyone considering a Mexican vacation.
As it turns out, the problem is the tourists demanding hotels to find dealers to supply them with various illicit drugs.
I quite don’t understand how Hyatt and Playa Hotels have no idea what is going on at their hotels in the area? Are they just turning a blind eye to all the dealing that takes place?
