Acapulco has emerged as one of the most violent cities in all of Mexico, and currently holds the title as the country’s “murder capital”.
Homicide rates in Mexico are surging as drug cartels continue to battle with one another. Over 12,000 people were killed through the first six months of 2017, marking the bloodiest first half of any year in recent memory. As recently as 2014, conditions seemed to be improving, with “only” about 16,000 reported homicides for the whole year. That marked the lowest casualties over the past several years.
However, homicides rebounded in 2015 and 2016, reaching 20,549 casualties. In 2011, the bloodiest year in the drug war, nearly 23,000 people were killed. If 2017 holds its current pace, however, it will surpass the 2011 high mark. June in particular marked the deadliest month in two decades worth of collected data.
In 2015, the United States as a whole saw nearly 15,700 murders. This number itself marked a 10 percent increase from the year before and was one of the worst years for violent crime in recent memory. Yet it pails in comparison to the number of murders in Mexico, a country with a population that is less than half as large as America’s.
Acapulco Now Mexico’s Murder Capital
Once upon a time, Acapulco was one of the most famous and desirable resort towns in the Americas. Located on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, Acapulco was long a top destination for tourists from the United States and elsewhere. Now, Acapulco has emerged as one of the most violent cities in all of Mexico, and currently holds the title as the country’s “murder capital.”
Acapulco has long been a party town filled with drugs. In recent years, however, drug cartels have been fighting for control of the important crossroads city.
In 2015, there were at least 903 murders in Acapulco, a city that is home to about 650,000 people. To put that into perspective, similarly sized Detroit, Michigan saw just under 300 homicides in 2015. While Detroit has a reputation for being among the United States rougher cities, it doesn’t come close to Acapulco. Further, Acapulco’s numbers are likely under-reported, with the police either turning a blind eye, or simply being kept in the dark.
Acapulco has long been a party town filled with drugs. In recent years, however, drug cartels have been fighting for control of the important crossroads city. Much of the cocaine and other drugs coming up from South America passes through Acapulco. Many gangsters have also been extorting local businesses, forcing owners to pay bribes in exchange for peace. Those who fail to pay up are sometimes killed, or have their property destroyed.
Is War on Drugs Making Things Worse?
Mexico is in the midst of a long-running “war” with organized criminal networks. The battles have been frequent and despite considerable effort on the Mexican government’s part, the wars only seem to be worsening. Meanwhile, demand for heroin and other drugs continues to rise in the United States. Where there is demand there will be supply.
Unfortunately, the war on drugs itself appears to be partly to blame for the high homicide rate. As high level leaders have been killed off, drug cartels have splintered, and then fought for turf. These turf wars have resulted in many casualties. And as cartels fight one another, they need more resources to wage war. Which means pushing more drugs and extorting more businesses.
