Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – The Secretary of National Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, announced that 8,524 elements of the National Guard will take care of tourists as part of the Easter security operation, including the deployment of troops to Puerto Vallarta.
In a conference, it was detailed that, between April 1 and 16, there will be 4,724 elements deployed in tourist destinations and 3,800 for road safety.
“(The action plan) will be covering the tourist areas and establishing a series of actions that will guarantee the population that they enjoy these periods,” said the General.
Sandoval pointed out that the elements of the GN will be deployed in tourist destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Cancun, and Veracruz.
“These will be the first areas that will be attended without detriment to other areas that the country has, in all of them there will be Guard personnel,” he added.
This Monday, during the start of the Easter holiday season, three shootings were recorded on the beaches of Cancun and Acapulco, two of the main tourist destinations in the country that are watched over by hundreds of soldiers and elements of the National Guard.
In Cancun, four men were shot to death in the morning in the middle of the hotel zone.
Despite the deployment of federal and local elements, armed individuals were able to enter the beach of the Fiesta Americana Condesa Hotel where they killed the four individuals who, according to the Government of Quintana Roo, were drug dealers.
Meanwhile, in Acapulco, a man died and four people were shot on the Caleta beach after a subject arrived and began shooting.
In addition to the National Guard troops being sent to Puerto Vallarta, the Puerto Vallarta Civil Protection and Fire Unit has deployed close to 150 personnel. The officers will work in two shifts and will be responsible for monitoring the beaches, urban areas, and highways of the municipality.
The busiest beaches during this period are Los Muertos, Playa Palmares, Holiday Inn, Playa Camarones, and Boca de Tomates. While the agency will focus on these beaches, they will not neglect others, and 50 lifeguards will be present to ensure beachgoers’ safety. The officers will work in conjunction with the State Civil Protection Unit of the State, federal authorities, and other municipalities along the coast.
In addition to beach surveillance, the operation will also cover tourist attractions in the urban area and along the highways. The agency will have six stations, including a central station and five substations, and operating personnel will travel on motorcycles in the rivers and streams that are also heavily frequented during this time.
The director of municipal Civil Protection stressed that beachgoers should avoid consuming alcohol before entering the sea and follow the recommendations of the lifeguards. The primary causes of death on the beach are alcohol consumption and swimming after the lifeguards leave, particularly when it’s dark. The agency aims to prevent any tragic events during the holiday period by increasing surveillance and deploying additional personnel.
