Overview
- U.S. Embassy and consulates have confirmed that American tourists were kidnapped by contacts made on dating apps in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit.
- Some families have been extorted for large ransom demands to secure their loved ones’ release, prompting a June 2 security alert from the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara.
- The State Department’s travel advisories list Jalisco under Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” and Nayarit under Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution.”
- Officials recommended meeting app contacts only in public places, avoiding isolated locations, sharing trip details with trusted contacts and calling 911 if in danger.
- In late May, the FBI and Mexican authorities raided a hotel in Nayarit, rescuing a beaten U.S. tourist and arresting two suspects.