MEXICO: Five killed in deadly Acapulco drug shootout

Record ID: 302566

  • Title: MEXICO: Five killed in deadly Acapulco drug shootout
  • Date: 16th April 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLES LEAVING THE SCENE VARIOUS GENERAL VIEWS OF SCENE POLICE ORDERING PHOTOGRAPHER AWAY FROM THE SCENE
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA8R4FC8M91D1ADSHWPQ5KVUTQL
  • Story Text: Drug hitmen killed at least five people, including a minor, in an attack on the tourist strip in Acapulco on Wednesday (April 14), the police said.
    The gun battle, near tourist hotels in the Pacific Ocean resort, was a further blow to Mexico's tourism industry, already battered by last year's swine flu outbreak.
    Upon hearing gun shots, police officers realised hitmen had just killed two men on board an SUV.
    While trying to escape, hitmen opened fire at the police officers but tragically killed three innocent civilians, including a child.
    One of the hitmen, 26 year-old Ernesto Antonio Rocha Reyes was arrested in possession of a rifle. He is suspected of working for Edgar Valdez, known as La Barbie, one of the Beltran Leyva cartel's top lieutenants.
    Police seized an SUV, two rifles, 16 chargers and police uniform.
    Authorities continue to look for more suspects.
    Gory news reports of daily shootouts between drug cartel hitmen are fueling concerns among North Americans and Europeans that Mexico is increasingly unsafe, even if most of the violence is along the U.S. border, far from top tourist areas.
    The number of international tourists flying into the Pacific beach resort of Acapulco, where rival hitmen have fought brazen gun battles in recent months, fell by almost a quarter in the first three months of this year, airport operator OMA said.
    Mexico's tourism industry is still likely to grow in 2010 compared to last year, when fears of swine flu emptied beaches, but businesses worry a perception of danger hangs over Mexico that could continue to undermine the industry.
    More than 22,700 people have died in Mexico's drug war since President Felipe Calderon took office in late 2006 and sent the army to fight powerful cartels fighting over smuggling routes into the United States.
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