TULUM, MEXICO – Two individuals, a woman from the United States and a man from Belize, were fatally shot in an apparent drug-related altercation at a beach club in Tulum, a popular Mexican tourist destination, according to official reports on Sunday.
The Quintana Roo state prosecutors, located on the Caribbean coast, emphasized that the American woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was not linked to the alleged drug dealer who also lost his life in the Friday night shooting. The U.S. Embassy has yet to comment on the incident.
The woman is believed to have been an innocent bystander, tragically caught in the crossfire. Contrary to local media speculations suggesting that the two victims were romantically involved, prosecutors dismissed these claims, pointing to a photograph of the Belizean man with a different woman.
Belize, a Central American nation, borders Mexico along the Caribbean coast. Tulum, situated south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, is closer to Belize.
Authorities revealed that the deceased man was found with cocaine and pills at the time of his death, leading them to suspect his involvement in drug dealing. The individuals believed to be responsible for the shootings have been identified and are currently being pursued.
This incident is not the first time foreign tourists have lost their lives in drug-related violence in the once-peaceful resort town. In 2021, two tourists, a California-based travel blogger of Indian origin and a German national, were killed while dining at a local restaurant, caught in a shootout between rival drug dealers.
In light of such incidents, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert last year, advising travelers to exercise heightened vigilance, particularly after dark, in Mexico’s Caribbean beach resorts, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.