RICHMOND, British Columbia –
Several flights from Canada to western Mexico were canceled Friday as violent gangs shut down local airports.
Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians to avoid any non-essential travel to various regions in Mexico due to high levels of violence and organized crime.
Those already in the country are advised to limit their movement and shelter in place.
The impact was felt at Vancouver International Airport on Friday morning.
WestJet’s 8:50 a.m. flight to Mazatlán was canceled and one with Sunwing was significantly delayed as the airport there remained closed.
Arlene from North Vancouver and Deborah from Sechelt were supposed to be on the canceled flight.
They are disappointed that their plans to spend a few months in Mazatlán have fallen through, but they plan to go there anyway.
“I just know the country and the people and I have no problem. We go there every year, so the cartel is just part of life down there,” Deborah said.
She says she’s usually in her rental apartment there by 8 p.m. and doesn’t fear for her safety.
“We’re not going to shoot each other. So the area we stay in is safe. Not crawling with cartel members or anything,” Arlene said.
Canadians coming from other parts of Mexico do not seem to be affected yet, although they are aware of what is happening.
Kim Peterson and Antonio Garcia of Langley arrived from Mexico City Friday morning and said they had no problems during their trip, but were sticking to safer regions.
“It depends where you’re going, you know? Because coming from Merida, Merida has a very secure security, so you will feel good there,” Garcia said.
Canadian tourists were trapped in a Mexican hotel Thursday after buses scheduled to take them to the airport were set on fire.
The violence began after security forces captured suspected drug trafficker Ovidio Guzman, who is the son of former cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
The Canadian government says the violence is particularly fierce in Culiacan, Mazatlán, Los Mochis and Guasave.
Canadian officials say cars have been set on fire, weapons fired and there have been threats to essential infrastructure, including airports.
The violence comes just days before President Andrés Manuel López Obrador hosts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden for a summit in Mexico City.
Canadians requiring urgent consular assistance were told to contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Monitoring and Response Center by calling 001-800-514-0129 (toll-free from Mexico only), +1 613 996 8885 , by text message at +1 613-686-3658, by WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881, by Telegram at Canada Emergency Abroad or by email at sos@international.gc.ca.
With files from the Canadian Press
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