It seems like a dream come true. Three friends set to spend time together in Baja, Mexico on an epic adventure in a foreign land. The two Australian brothers, Jake and Callum Robinson, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad stopped to surf in Punta San Jose, Mexico. A beach with a series of reef breaks that sweep into a giant right when the surf is firing. An excellent choice for the trio, given that region was known for some of the best surf on the planet.
Unfortunately, what the trio found in Punta San Jose was a run-in with some vicious locals trying to steal their tires. The trio fought back against their attackers, but Jake, Callum, and Jack were shot and killed. The Policia Federal have arrested three suspects so far; two are in custody for methamphetamines possession, while the other is in for a charge like kidnapping (Mexican Law). Whatever their final punishment will be, it will not bring the trio back, nor provide adequate justice. It will not bring Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman back either, the other two Australian surfers that were murdered by unknown perpetrators back in November 2015.
Mexico has become a dangerous place. Crimes such as these happen quite often in Mexico, to both the traveler and to the citizen. Organizations, specifically Cartels continue, and have increased the exploitation of the impoverished, unstable organizations, and the corrupt Government. Cartels do this to gain political and criminal power. “Their crimes include murder, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, cybercrimes, and the trafficking and smuggling of humans, weapons, and drugs.” Additionally, Mexico has had 340,000 deaths and over 100,000 disappearances since 2006. The United Nations attributes most of the deaths to criminal cartel activities within Mexico. So, the next time you travel abroad, know where you are going; and more importantly who will be there.
Visit the U.S. Department of State to check travel advisories, terrorism levels, travel bans, etc.
