Express Extortion: Easy Credit Apps Come at a High Cost In Mexico, InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press, World Looks to InSight Crime for Mexico Expertise. This represented the lowest crime incidence . But Mexico is still waiting for the funds as it wages its battle against the criminal organizations. We just started using the dentist in Nogales and have nothing but good things to say about it. You have a very good chance of being pulled into secondary if you dont have proof or passport. Other cities.- Some other cities noted for their low crime rate are Uruapan, municipal head of Michoacn, La Paz, Nogales and others. We paid our $5.00, and left the green ticket in the car window. If you return to the United States from Mexico with these substances, you will not be given a prescription by a reputable doctor. I am rarely asked for my passport coming into Mexico, even when I get the red light. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. Welcome to Mexico. We ate twice in Nogales. We visited a local Pharmacy without any issues, treated kindly and respectfully. Nogales is a city in Sonora, Mexicos northernmost state, and it is situated in the countrys northwest. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Current as of Feb 2023. My dentist expe.rance in Nogales was far better than what I had in the US, and a lot more affordable . For more information, please call 55-5784-3231. (LogOut/ From the looks of things, its only getting worse. Travelers can safely walk in the city daytime, but its not recommended going for a walk at night. We started walking. By plane []. Unidentified subjects kidnapped the three, and the tale turns gruesome from there. At the end of September 2021, the US Treasury Department sanctioned several individuals close to El Mayo, accusing them of trafficking tons of fentanyl from the Mexico border city of Nogales. In addition, the rate of property crime was one-third that of the overall rate of crime in the state. The rate of crime in Nogales is 64.57 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Its also right next door to Regis, a popular local bar, which is great! Your IP: Thank you. The stories are sobering. Compare Nogales crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. Both have free WiFi, parking, cable TV, private bathrooms, clean and safe. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Nogales has its own country code, +42, which is not included in the North American Numbering Plan. This time, however, we are heading to San Carlos, about 8 hrs from PHX. Nogales, Mexico: Most Populous Municipality In Sonora. "They shot at an officer sitting right here and nearly killed him," says Ruiz in Spanish, describing an incident that occurred months earlier. Just walk through the turnstile and thats it. Even though lunch didnt win any awards, the ice cream was really good, and I would go there again. Evidently our conversation partners were over the age of 62 because by the time we turned around, they had pushed their way up front as well. The agency's advisories add up to a no-go warning for more than half of Mexicos 31 states. That all changed in 2019. She gave limited details of the perpetrators, adding that the shot that took her friends life may have been an accidental discharge. My youngest was stared at by many because her hair was long and silky soft, funny one ladybwtopped walking on the widewalk and asked if she may touch her hair. No there is no Senior Line anymore coming back into the US. Just remember this. It was higher than in 68.2% U.S. cities. 2 hours later they were released 6 blocks south of the border and told to walk. Why are Criminal Dynamics Constantly Changing in Tamaulipas, Mexico? How much can you incorporate your travels into lesson plans? Part Two Outlines Some Social Problems, Investors And Buyers: Very Confusing Sustainability Choices In The Auto Industry, Phantom Auto Buys Voysys To Boost Remote Operation Capabilities. "People can come to Mexico, but they just have to be aware and informed that they are going into a country that is having some problems right now," Estrada says. "It's not directed at Juan who works in the carwash; it's not about them," Ramrez says. The CJNG's main interest in Sonora appears to be access to drug corridors and border crossings. Being on the street at night is quite dangerous, it is also better to move around the city only in groups. According to Lantia Intelligence, the Caborca Cartel also seems to have formed an alliance with the network of Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, aliasChapo Isidro, a veteran operator for Beltrn Leyva Organization (BLO). Travel in a group and do not show up on the streets late at night. The incident occurred as the three were when leaving a casino in the El Greco neighborhood of Nogales. The Arizona city has suffered an enormous economic impact from the border closure. Both Mexican and US Customs and Border Protection are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two journalists in the region who cover drug trafficking and asked to remain anonymous for security reasons told InSight Crime that Quinteros relatives have historically been involved in diverse criminal economies in Sonora and that Quintero is not necessarily involved in day-to-day operations. The city is 108 miles (174 km) southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi (97 km) north of the U.S.-Mexico . We left our car in a lot on the U.S. side of Nogales and walked across the border. Nogales is a city in Sonora, Mexico's northernmost state, and it is situated in the country's northwest. The OSAC annual crime and safety report of 2020 sheds some light on the level of safety in Nogales.. I havr stayed in several hotels there and many are so beautiful! Just like Cancun, garbage iseverywhere. At the nation's more than 300 ports of . First of all, the rumors of gun battles in the streets and drug trafficking on every corner are simply not true. We live in green valley so the trip isnt far. Once you leave the three or four tourist blocks, a whole different Nogales emerges. Nogales is not a place for tourists. Two Cities, Two Countries, Common Ground. Border Patrol agents discovered a tunnel beneath the street in October 2020. Over the years, thousands of Americans and Canadians have crossed the border into Mexico to purchase inexpensive prescription drugs. That means the homicide crime rate was 29 per 100,000 in 2020. Map out your drive and be aware of much needed bathroom stops. 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. The proximity to the consulate caused a response, despite the incident occurring at 4 AM. Joey and I were continually looking out for each other by pointing out the hazards. Crossing the border was as simple as could be. The homicide rate in the city has increased since 2019, residential burglaries are common, car theft is common, and gun crime is quite prevalent because gangs carry weapons. The neighborhood near the border crossing is full of shops and street vendors that tourists must visit. I wont be heading to the states for awhile (except to go to PetSmart). Visitors to Nogales should consider parking in one of the many lots near the border because of the citys difficult traffic conditions. Technically they have to let a US person back in the US. The most extensive database on organized crime in the Americas. 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. Pick a spot in the U.S. to go! We werent asked for a passport, or to declare anything. The group states that the main reasons behind this . I was amazed with the scenery and was happy when I saw the wall. We felt like we had done something wrong. Forced disappearances have also plagued the US-Mexico border state. Really enjoyed reading it ! There is no international airport. E-mails have circulated among residents about what to do if they find themselves stopped by suspected drug traffickers. The first three blocks are lined with dentists, pharmacies, nightclubs, bars, shops, as well as the usual colorful Mexicantchotchkes. "I have never seen that degree of violence in Nogales, Sonora, and I was born in Nogales, Sonora, and was raised here," says Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada. But residents in Nogales, Sonora, say the danger isn't merely perception, but reality. Nogales is a city in Sonora, Mexico, on the border of the United States and Mexico. Our biggest issue traveling from Nogales to San Carlos, Mexico was that plumbing isnt the best. There's another bullet hole in the plastic lining of the driver-side door. . Another person in our party went with him because he spoke Spanish. I just finished my first trip there after living in Arizona for 11 years and had a really wonderful time in Nogales. I would visit, as a white female, the city very often from 2013 2018 alone, with no issues. Crowds at a restaurant are always a good sign. NOGALES, Ariz. In mid-February, a federal judge sentenced a Sonora, Mexico man to 51 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Most recent State Department data may also cause travelers to pause before booking a trip to Mexico. Although a pair of $15 Aztec-themed onyx bookends caught my eye, I had nowhere to put them and didnt feel like carrying them around. According to OSAC, the Chihuahua region is listed as a 'critical threat.'. Good food and if you walk across it is fast and faster than driving. It felt weird crossing the border back into the U.S. without anything to declare. The three-level law-enforcement operation will continue indefinitely in Nogales, Ramrez says. Compare Tucson crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. View all posts by Jen. Nogales has an upbeat and festive vibe, and people are friendly and welcoming to one another. It was a terribly putrid town then and Ive since gone back once (10 years post-NAFTA), and was equally unimpressed. Great blog of your trip. Not a hard decision really for a first time border crossing. The incident, which occurred in the early morning of Aug. 16, left two dead and two others wounded. Compare Nogales with: We need more contributors for Nogales to increase our data quality. List of prices in Nogales. 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. If a pharmacist in Mexico sells controlled medications, he or she may lose his or her license if he or she violates the countrys legal requirements. Enjoy your visit to this beautiful country. Hours later, the vehicle in question was engulfed in flames south of Nogales, in a lot between the Monarcas and Bellotas subdivisions. Eds border lot now charges $5 a day, but it is safe and secure. One has a gated entryway and another has a garage attatched to the room! A train service connecting Mexico and the United States does not exist between Nogales and any other city in either country. In Mexico there are industrial zones and areas, where the industrial parks are located. The border between the United States and . We were treated kindly and politely at all points. Violence that used to fill newspapers and airwaves in other parts of Mexico, such as Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, is now occurring in this border city of nearly 200,000 people: beheadings, execution-style killings, bodies found wrapped in duct tape with messages for rival drug traffickers, shootouts in such public places as bus stops and restaurant parking lots. I travel there frequently, at least once every month or two. Open containers are strictly prohibited and enforced as is carrying a pocket knife. 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. Id get a hotel on the US side and do daily visits. With the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the border between Arizona and Mexico were dened, bisecting Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Mexico. 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Groups aligned with the Chapitos such as the Salazar and Gente Nueva as well as smaller cells like the Cazadores and the Rumas have a presence throughout almost the entire state and have been involved in acts of public violence, threats against locals and brutal murders. In . The tourists standing there were looking angrier by the minute that no one was helping. The main shopping areas are on Campillo and Obregon streets. Nogales is in the 10th percentile for safety, meaning 90% of cities are safer and 10% of cities are more dangerous. A few minutes into the trip I realized that we ARE wealthy. The tall white hotel is very updated and has a seperate gated and gaurded parking area a block away down from the nightly Mariachi band posted up. Are there issues with crime? U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the nation's largest federal law enforcement agency charged with securing the nation's borders and facilitating international travel and trade. Law enforcement officials say the tunnels are used by traffickers to smuggle drugs and people across the border. 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. My visit was uneventful, but its easy to see how a serious injury could occur. "This is happening out on the street," Coulson says. Meanwhile, the property crime rate fell 55%, with big declines in the rates of burglary (-69%), motor vehicle theft (-64%) and larceny/theft (-49%). Its a town filled with ordinary people just trying to get by. The Chapitos are currently a big problem for the Sinaloa Cartel. A fun casual time. No pass/card? "But, unfortunately, the tourist is poorly informed. SUPERB ! Published by Teresa Romero , Oct 25, 2022. The Australian government also expresses concern about the safety of areas frequented by vacationers. Most crimes in Nogales are armed robbery, assault, and burglary, also the city suffers from homicide, vehicle theft, home invasion, and rape. The minimal risks associated with going to Nogales, Sonora, are no different from traveling to Tucson or Phoenix, where gang and criminal activity occur frequently, too, she says. ", She adds: "The bad people are in the far-reaching parts of the city, not here in downtown.". Was Haiti's President Mose Killed for Valuable State Contracts? Thanks so much for the info. If you want a real Mexican experience-go to Mexico! The people are the same as in anywhere. Be aware of your surroundings, dont flash your fancy jewelry or open your wallet to expose your cash, etc., just as you should in ANY area you travel. Better than the U.S. in our opinion. Often people can come up and ask for money without hesitate. The local newspaper in Nogales, Mexico, reported 365 murders in 2021. 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. You can also check online reviews to see what other people have to say about different pharmacies in Nogales, Mexico. We both agreed to never cross the border on a weekend. Not in a mood to have my Benz taken from me. Nogales is a great place to see the sights and experience the culture of Mexico. We really didnt know if it was safe, or of the stories of shootouts in the streets were true. The cartels are no longer waging their battles in back alleys or inside homes, Coulson says. The only problem I have experienced in Nogales has been the border crossing back driving a private car it has taken us up to 4 yes FOUR hours waiting on line and there are no bathrooms! Because of the lax regulations of drug manufacturing in other countries, the FDA does not recommend purchasing prescriptions from there. Also, you do not need a tourist visa to visit Nogales if you are going to stay within the border zone, which most tourists do. Nogaless proximity to the U.S. border and the abundance of inexpensive labor make it an efficient location for foreign companies to have manufacturing operations. The violence perpetrated by the Chapitos and associates appears to be the source of tension within the Sinaloa Cartel, according to organized crime expert and journalist Anabel Hernndez, who spoke to InSight Crime at the beginning of 2021. You do not need to exchange your U.S. dollars, as just about everywhere will accept the U.S. currency. . They do not hold up their end of agreements and are generating a lot of violence, Hernndez said. 2. We also had ice cream at La Michoacana. Thanks, Bob. I would be interested to hear about your trip to San Carlos. Many types of antojitos (Mexican food) are available in restaurants across the country. Our work is costly and high risk. I would recommend visiting Nogales and doing just that- at least getting a taste of real Mexican culture. Female travel alone is not recommended in this city. I look forward to checking out some of the spots from your blog. I have visited Nogales many times. Even though it was a Tuesday and the middle of the day, there were a lot of people just sitting around and doing nothing in Nogales.