An American woman was recently killed in a crossfire after a drug deal didn’t go as planned in the Mexican beach resort of Tulum, Mexico.
Following the woman’s death, the U.S. State Department released a travel advisory for individuals traveling to Mexico amid an increase in crime.
The woman, 44-year-old Niko Honarbakhsh, was a native of Los Angeles, California. Local reports tried to form a connection between the 44-year-old woman and a local drug dealer named Belize, who also died in the matter, but investigators have dismissed such claims.
The Blaze reported that the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation into the tragic attack, which occurred on Feb. 9, 2024. Belize reportedly possessed cocaine and “transparent bags with red and orange pills” inside and bags of “brown granulated powder.”
Suspects in the matter have been identified and authorities are currently searching for them, according to the New York Post.
American woman killed by stray bullet during shootout between drug dealers in Tulum beach club https://t.co/BYosGUgDDN pic.twitter.com/WZRf5ksikZ
— New York Post (@nypost) February 12, 2024
The Blaze pointed out that the recent attack in Tulum is not the first time that tourists in the area have lost their lives in a crossfire dealing with drug dealers.
In 2021, German native Jennifer Henzold and travel blogger Anjali Ryot were killed while dining at a restaurant after being in the middle of a drug-related gunfire between local gangs.
Considering the recent attack in Tulum and prior crimes in the region, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for those planning to travel to the area.
“Violent crime — such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery — is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted,” the department wrote.
“In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities,” it added. “U.S. citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel. State-specific restrictions are included in the individual state advisories below.
“U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands,” it continued.
