“Tourism and Drug Cartel Clashes in Mexico” by Karol Suárez

In recent years, Mexico’s security landscape has been marked by a series of often violent clashes between drug cartels, presenting a challenging environment for both locals and travelers. The security situation in Mexico is a multifaceted issue that is complex and difficult to understand. This lecture will focus on explaining the basics of Mexico’s long war on drugs and criminal violence and will also discuss what students need to know about the dangers of reckless behavior in cartel territory. The speaker will share her research and experience covering organized crime and will provide guidance on following basic security protocols while in Mexico to avoid unwanted cartel encounters in different environments.

Karol Suarez is a Venezuela-born journalist based out of Mexico City for Latin America. She works for CNN, The Courier-Journal, and USA Today. She covers breaking news, social-political issues in the region, presidential elections, civil unrest, immigration, natural disasters, and organized crime. Suarez is a field producer, desk producer, newswriter, and reporter. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Communications from Yacambu University in Venezuela.