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Drug violence hits Mexican resort town Acapulco – Metro US

Drug violence hits Mexican resort town Acapulco

Acapulco, the resort destination on the western coast of Mexico was rocked by violence over the weekend as 13 taxi drivers and their fares were murdered.

Throughout the major drug war going on across the nation, major tourist spots such as Acapulco and Cancun have been spared. But this most recent attack coincides with the arrival of a major international tennis tournament.

Tournament organizers ATP said in a statement: “Following an independent security assessment and discussions with tournament organisers, we are satisfied that responsible measures are being taken, and that the event has the full support of the authorities of Acapulco, the state of Guerrero, and the Mexican federal government.”

Players have received e-mails from the ATP, advising them on where to go out and suggesting they stay near their hotel, the Daily Mail reported. It has also been suggested they arrive as late as possible and leave once eliminated.

The slaughter began on Friday, when five taxi drivers were found dead in or around their vehicles, and on Saturday, another lifeless cabbie was found tied to his taxi with several gunshot wounds, the Daily Mail reported. Later that evening, two others were found shot dead inside their vehicles, one of them decapitated. In a separate incident, a group of gunmen opened fire against another taxi cab, killing the driver and three passengers.

By Sunday, the body count equaled 13, although various reports differ on the number of drivers or passengers killed.

Earlier this year, the LPGA canceled a golf tournament scheduled for April in the north-central region of Mexico due to security concerns.