U.S. Issues Travel Advisories to Mexico After 8 Bodies Found Dead on Streets of Cancun

Travel warnings have been issued to tourists visiting Mexico after eight bodies – including two dismembered bodies in plastic bags – were discovered in the resort city of Cancun.

Two other bodies, a man and a woman, were reportedly found in an abandoned taxi. They were stuffed in the trunk, and the driver of the cab allegedly fled the scene before police arrived just after midnight Monday, Riviera Maya News reported.

Four additional bodies were discovered shot to death in different locations in Quintana Roo earlier this week – one bound, one while lying in a hammock and one that was later covered in a plastic bag, APTN reported. The final body's conditions were not immediately clear.

None of the bodies were discovered in the resort district popular among vacationing Americans, authorities confirmed.

In response, the U.S. State Department issued a level two travel advisory to Quintana Roo, advising visitors to exercise increased caution.

“While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted, criminal organization assassinations, turf battles between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents injuring or killing bystanders have occurred,” the department said in a statement.

The travel advisory extends to the entire country and warns travelers to be careful visiting local bars, avoid driving at night, pay attention when visiting banks or ATMs and to put away attention-drawing jewelry.

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