Guadalajara Consulate Advisory

Posted by Bernie Lewis on June 29, 2010, 10:37 pm
187.146.128.96

American citizens should be aware of the fact that the security environment within Guadalajara’s consular district continues to deteriorate. Mexican officials recently commented on the security situation in Guadalajara saying that police are unable to effectively combat organized crime and drug cartel violence could affect innocent civilians. Drug cartel violence continues to be on the rise within the greater Guadalajara Metropolitan area. On June 24th there was a confrontation between police and cartel fighters on the road between Guadalajara and the nearby tourist destination of Mazamitla. Multiple gun battles between rival drug cartels and police involving automatic assault rifles, armored vehicles, and grenades have been reported closer and closer to Guadalajara to include the recent heavy weapons fights in Tepic, Nayarit where the Governor recently ordered the early closure of public schools due to the cartel violence. In light of the deteriorating security situation: · U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll ("cuota") roads, which generally are more secure. · Be aware of your surroundings. If any suspicious or violent activity is observed, move away from the threat and report specific information immediately to local police. · Take cover and/or evasive action if you hear or see weapons being fired at anytime. Immediately get down on the ground behind solid cover or drive away quickly if you are in your vehicle. Do not attempt moving closer to the action to see what is happening. Once you can safely move away from the incident, proceed as quickly as possible with evasive action to remove yourself from the scene. · Drive Defensively - In addition to the threat from organized criminals, road rage can also lead to a deadly incident. Remember to drive defensively and avoid provoking other drivers regardless of any erratic driving near your vehicle. Keep your distance and be a courteous driver to avoid any potential for conflict. · Immediately report any violence or incident involving the use of deadly weapons to the local police. Please continue to monitor the regularly updated State Department travel warnings for Mexico using the following link: http://travel.state.gov/ For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other areas by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara is located at 175 Progreso Street; Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara telephone number is 011 52 33 3268 2100; the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara fax number is 011 52 33 3825 1951. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145.

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