MEXICO CITY — Prosecutors say they have found a total of eight dead bodies on the streets of the Mexican resort city of Cancun, with two bodies dumped at two spots and four others found shot to death individually.
The bodies of a man and a woman were found in an abandoned taxi Tuesday, and the dismembered bodies of two men were found in a several plastic bags at another spot.
Also Tuesday, one man was found bound and shot to death. The prosecutors' office for the state of Quintana Roo said another man was killed while lying in a hammock, yet another was found shot and covered in a plastic bag.
Details of the eighth body were not immediately available.
None of the killings occurred in the city's beach-side hotel zone.
Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Mexico advising Americans to exercise increased caution while traveling to the country, due to crime.
The level 2 travel advisory warns that violent crime, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery, is "widespread" throughout Mexico.
In January, the State Department issued a strict "do not travel" advisory for Colima state, Guerrero state, Michoacán state, Sinaloa state and Tamaulipas state.
The State Department offered the following tips for traveling in other parts of Mexico:
- Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving at night.
- Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.
- Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
- Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
- Review the Crime and Safety Reports for Mexico.
- U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.