The article was picked up by, Our coverage of the arrest of Chapitos co-founder Ovidio Guzmn Lpez in Mexico has received worldwide attention.In the UK, outlets includingThe IndependentandBBC. I think all the cartel rhetoric has stopped many from visiting, but I have seen more violence on our side of the border in Tucson and Phoenix. I agree with your comments about Tubac, its nice, but its not Mexico. Plus Global Entry includes TSA Pre-check if you like to fly. The CJNG's main interest in Sonora appears to be access to drug corridors and border crossings. For the first nine months of 2019, Mexico had 25,890 murdersalmost six times as many murders per 100,000 people as in the U.S. This photo provided by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office in Nogales, Arizona, shows rancher George Alan Kelly, 73, who is being held on $1 million bond in the fatal shooting last week of a . It was amusing to watch the spectacle from a distance. Below is what happened when we crossed the border for the day. "Now we have violent deaths, gunfire from high-powered weapons such as AK-47s, we have crimes where four people die in a single act," says Arturo Ramrez Camacho, chief of police in Nogales, Sonora, in Spanish. Compare Nogales with: We need more contributors for Nogales to increase our data quality. San Carlos is off of Campillo on Benito Jurez. School fencing plan halted after Sam Hughes Neighborhood complaints, Check out the latest Southern Arizona solutions news, New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body, More dispensaries than McDonald's: Oklahoma is full of cannabis. More than 31 million Americans visited Mexico in 2016, the National Travel & Tourism Office says, and State Department data shows there were reports of 75 American homicide victims there. A smart entrepreneur would have found a way to carry a port-a-potty up and down the waiting lines Moctezuma revange really is a thing! The downtown area consists of bars, strip clubs, hotels, restaurants, and many curio stores, where tourists can buy a large variety of handicrafts, leather art, handmade flowers, clothes. My sister is a retired Spanish teacher and we make the trip to nogales at least once a month so she can keep up with her Spanish. Below, InSight Crime provides an overview of the major players and the circumstances that have led to the trail of bloodshed in this crucial corridor for drug trafficking and other illicit activities. It will destroy their sewer or septic systems. Explore proven sources on this subject prior to your visit to the city. In this age range, the largest number of residents were between the ages of 10 and 14 (25,621), 15 to 19 (24,351), and 20 to 24 (23,942). At the Estrella Blanca regional bus stop in Nogales, bullet holes remain in the ground where masked gunmen killed a taxi driver and in the concrete wall where they shot at another person. A few kind words in Spanish wouldnt hurt to learn, either. The chain of events already unraveling, things then took an unexpected turn. You do not need to exchange your U.S. dollars, as just about everywhere will accept the U.S. currency. We just started using the dentist in Nogales and have nothing but good things to say about it. "You just don't know where the chase is going to go. Traveling to Phoenix to visit a friend. There is a Nogales, Arizona and a Nogales, Mexico. Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico. The total for five tacos and two drinks, $9. No, gracias, I dont need a half-gallon of unsealed vanilla extract right now. Once you are out of the United States, you have no rights. According to the news outlet Milenio, the Caborca Cartel took shape in 2017 after Quintero allegedly called a meeting with his relatives and subordinates to organize the retaking of Sonora. 1 Nogales International Airport (NOG IATA) (On MEX 15 highway, south of the city). Number of murders committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Mexico from 2009 to 2021. Hats and sunscreen are a necessity. We felt perfectly safe the entire time. Both Mexican and US Customs and Border Protection are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Mexico, a similar FDA agency regulates the sale and distribution of prescription and non-prescription drugs. Violent crime increased 46.4% in 2020, according to the Mexico Peace Index. Obey the speed laws. Such increased caution is advised in Quintana Roo state which includes popular tourist areas Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Riviera Maya. Our top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States. After all, thousands cross every day to earn a living. And I was quite surprised how quiet my room was being that close. AndAmericans with plans to go to 11 other Mexican states should reconsider, the agency says. I travel there frequently, at least once every month or two. (LogOut/ State Department officials declined to comment about the situation, saying only that they are closely monitoring the drug- related violence in Sonora. {Photographer: Brett Gundlock/Bloomberg). This was a great write up! On the border, any traveler . According to OSAC, the Chihuahua region is listed as a 'critical threat.'. In comparison to Arizona, the property crime rate in Nogales is 16.32%, which is still lower than the state average. From the looks of things, its only getting worse. After dinner, one of our party was arrested on the street, with a drink in a styrofoam cup, that had a lid and a straw. Nogales: downtown, yep It shares a 230-mile border with Texas, and murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, extortion and sexual assault commonly occur, the State Department says. Use only certified taxi services or call it from the app. If you want a real Mexican experience-go to Mexico! "We take care of the tourists; they are protected" by the Nogales tourist police force, Nora Licon, owner of Curios Licon, says in Spanish. 209.182.203.225 Within days I knew all of my neighbors. After crossing the borders of twenty countries, this is by far the easiest. The sons are known collectively as the Chapitos. The dentists and pharmacies all have someone outside calling you to stop in for a minute. We were left in a line talking to what was probably a soldier not supposed to be there. And that's the impact of just one of 1,356 murders in Sonora last year. We werent asked for a passport, or to declare anything. We decided to take a few safety precautions before we left home: Crossing into Mexico is quite simply, the most ridiculously easy border crossing ever. Our work is costly and high risk. Eds border lot now charges $5 a day, but it is safe and secure. (Noah Silber Coats) "I f we look at it from the legal perspective, living here is a crime," explained Susana Salazar, gazing out over snaking dirt roads, powerlines, and the patchwork of improvised homes that over 10,000 families call home. A fun casual time. SENTRI is the pre-approved clearance, expedited border crossing process. Drug traffickers brought violence to spring-break meccas, shooting up nightclubs and leaving bodies in suitcases outside exclusive condos. Additionally, the Cartel fights and Cartel and they try to avoid getting innocents, especially the tourists, involved. There is no comparison!!! 2. The group is a major smuggler of fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid flooding the US-Mexico border. De Dios and his wife have stopped going out on weekends with their two children because of the increased violence. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox. The two entered into a quasi-peace agreement following deadly gunfights in May 2007 in Cananea, Sonora, but that lasted only about a year, Coulson says. Two Cities, Two Countries, Common Ground. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. Visitors to Nogales should consider parking in one of the many lots near the border because of the citys difficult traffic conditions. My BFF & I go to shop, lots of cheap & unique stuff. Currently in The Southwest with a wonderful husband, a rescue dog named Gaia. The tourists crossing into Nogales are going to visit the dentist or pharmacy, and thats it. I will never go back. No there is no Senior Line anymore coming back into the US. Yes the police will shake you down for money if you do anything illegal or perceived to be illegal. It's no different from rashes of killings seen in such other eras as the mid-1970s, she says. 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A doctor must prescribe a prescription from a licensed U.S. physician in order to bring more than 50 dosage units across the border. Nogales accounted for more than a quarter of the 230 killings registered in the Mexican state of Sonora this year through August and more than any other city in the state, including Hermosillo, which had tallied the most killings in each of the previous two years, figures show. In 2016, according to my analysis of the data, more Americans were reported killed by homicide in Mexico than the combined total of Americans killed by homicide in every other country abroad. And rumors have run rampant about threats on a popular movie theater in the Nogales mall, and, perhaps seizing on people's worst fears, about threats on schools. "Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, is prevalent in tourist destinations, airports, hotels, bus stations and on public transport. Santa Cruz County Justice of the Peace Emilio G. Velasquez made his decision following hours of . Nogales crime rates are 28% higher than the national average. Since I still have a few more decades before I turn 62, we stayed put and watched the line inch forward. Pick a spot in the U.S. to go! The annual rainfall for the municipality is 539.8 millimeters. You have a very good chance of being pulled into secondary if you dont have proof or passport. We werent allowed to visit even the U.S. side of Douglas or Nogales. In Nogales you have a 1 in 34 chance of becoming a victim of crime. ! I look nothing like her, but I assumed shes the only famous black woman hes familiar with. "Be cautious and discreet about discussing your financial or business affairs.". Murders have spiked in Mexico's northern state of Sonora, thanks to the volatile mix of a veteran drug trafficker's alleged return, internal disputes within the Sinaloa Cartel, and an offensive by the powerful Jalisco Cartel New Generation. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. Most of all, enjoy your visit. Must of all, YOU be respectful and courteous. Mexican government statistics show an increase in homicide rates in the state last year, the State Department says. NOGALES, SONORA Officer Lamberto Ruiz climbs into his police truck and looks through a spiderweb of cracks fanning out from a bullet hole in his windshield. 2010 City Crime Rate Rankings places Phoenix in #135 out of 400 cities . Crossing the border was as simple as could be. Additionally, CJNG operators have been arrested at the San Luis Ro Colorado border crossing and killed in the Empalme municipality, both in the southwestern part of the state. Mexico is a popular destination for purchasing prescription medications without a doctors prescription. Travelers should avoid public transportation in the Nogales based on the lack of safety on it. Weve lived near the border for over two years now and its definitely not as bad as the media claims. The local newspaper in Nogales, Mexico, reported 365 murders in 2021. Is it even worth it? Nogales is in the state of Sonora, one of the most dangerous places in Mexico. Zambada's operators are primarily located in the northern part of the state, where they profit from drug smuggling. While Joey and I were chatting with a lovely couple from Tucson, we noticed people still shoving their way up front. The three-level law-enforcement operation will continue indefinitely in Nogales, Ramrez says. Travelers can safely walk in the city daytime, but its not recommended going for a walk at night. I WILL NEVER GO TO NOGALES AGAIN. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The goal of the operation is to increase the law-enforcement presence in the city and create deterrence, Ramrez says. Really enjoyed reading it ! . There are numerous bars, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and curio stores in and around the downtown area. You can also enjoy zip lining, hiking, and horseback riding if you want a more adventurous experience. Estado de Mexico, Jalisco, Morelos, Nayarit, idnappings are common, and there have been allegations of complicity by police officers," the Australian government says. Oh awesome! Although the lists are not legally binding on anyone, you may still be arrested if you bring them into Mexico with substances on them, and you should carry a copy of the prescription or doctors letter. Nogales seemed fine for the day, but its not a place I would want to visit at night. "Shooting incidents injuring or killing bystanders have occurred.". This includes the subcontracting of local gangs such as the Barredora and the Plaza as the group's armed wings. Once you leave the three or four tourist blocks, a whole different Nogales emerges. In Sonora, this struggle has intensified over the last three years, increasing homicides in the southern part of the state. If I were to go to the pharmacy down in Nogales and purchase prescription drugs, would it be allowed back into the US? Family of four estimated monthly costs: Mex$ 36,993. How do I get prescriptions from the US to Mexico? Nogales, Mexico is a city in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, lying on the border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It's empty everywhere; people are not going out because they are afraid something will happen.". We live in green valley so the trip isnt far. Remember, if you are from the USA, you are considered wealthy as the exchange rate is amazingly in your favor. Is Nogales, Mexico safe? Cochise County officials are highly concerned about spill-over, even though nothing has happened, Cochise Sheriff Larry Dever says. What a nightmare. Nogales, city, seat (1899) of Santa Cruz county, southern Arizona, U.S. A port of entry on the Mexican border, it adjoins Heroica Nogales in Sonora, Mexico. Come to find out a taxi driver accused me of running off and not paying him, he was lying! Unexpected changes in sidewalk elevation occur without warning. Nogales is an amazing town to visit. The restriction means that no one else can take the medications you buy for them. When traveling deeper into Mexico, the best tip is to always stay on the main highways to prevent any further scary occurrances that could possibly be. Despite the reputation for drug violence and underground tunnels, we decided to see what the town is really like. Millions of Americans visit the country annually without incident, but, if you heed the most recent government warnings and data, you may want to think twice about heading south of the border. State Officials Targeted as CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel Clash in Zacatecas, Mexico. We just went again yesterday, to the dentist, it wasnt all roses. "Working at the ports of entry securing our . Next time you come down, let me know. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. If you order without a prescription, the package of medications you receive may be seized. No one looked at or even talked to us. Ive seen CBP make them wait or send them back. I would visit, as a white female, the city very often from 2013 2018 alone, with no issues. Because of the lax regulations of drug manufacturing in other countries, the FDA does not recommend purchasing prescriptions from there. . The man, however, was nowhere to be found. He starts the truck and, before beginning a patrol shift aimed at combating drug violence, puts his right hand to his forehead and crosses himself. Of course like any city. As with any city you always have yo be kind and courteous to all when visiting. Although I did my best to hide my wealth by dressing in a jeans and t-shirt, and leaving the jewelry and expensive bag at home, we still looked like wealthy gringos. Even though lunch didnt win any awards, the ice cream was really good, and I would go there again. Some medications, such as Oxycodone, you will need a prescription and you will need to go a bit further into Nogales for the meds. Welcome to Mexico. The group states that the main reasons behind this . As a state with major drug- and human-trafficking routes from Mexico to the United States, the state of Sonora, Mexico has had an element of violent crime for decades. . Being on the street at night is quite dangerous, it is also better to move around the city only in groups. Since the ruptureof an alliance between the Sinaloa Cartel and the BLO in 2008, the networks associated with Chapo Isidro have been in continuous conflict with the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel. Crime in Nogales, Mexico. The main shopping areas are on Campillo and Obregon streets. As a result, strong community-police partnerships are essential in reducing crime. Yes and no. I also buy some of my medicine at the pharmacy. You really should carry personal wipes and never ever put anything in toilet. NOGALES - After 19 months, this Arizona border city will reopen Monday to nonessential travelers from Mexico, giving its 20,000 residents hope that business - and life - may return to pre-pandemic normal. WARNING! It is the site of Nogales' sub-prefecture and is located on the Mexico- Arizona border. Most of the people who live in Nogales are more helpful than harmful. We found a lot on Park Street (really). We are both careful to pay attention to our surroundings just as we would anywhere. At around 1:40 AM Wednesday, police stopped to investigate a person lying in the street outside a local bar. As soon as we started to get the, what are you doing all the way up here stares, we turned around to find some lunch. "People's attitudes are changing," says Martir, 28, in Spanish. I highly recommend it. Click to reveal document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, Visiting Isla Mujeres, During aHurricane, A Journey to the Spanish Missions of the PimeraAlta, Visiting Nogales, Mexico: What You Need toKnow, Visiting Nogales, Mexico: What You Need to Know, A Disappointing Day at the Grand Chichen Itza, A Journey to the Spanish Missions of the Pimera Alta, Cochise Stronghold: The Last Great Apache Hideout, Visiting Isla Mujeres, During a Hurricane, Exploring Forgotten History at Tubac and Tumacacori. Although Im a huge fan of sterling silver jewelry, all of the silver jewelry in Nogales isnt real silver. 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