2009 CIUDAD JUAREZ OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT

UNCLAS CIUDAD JUAREZ 000027


FOR DS/OSAC AND DS/IP/WHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC MX
SUBJECT: 2009 CIUDAD JUAREZ OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT


I. (U) Overall Crime and Safety Situation:


A. Crime Threats

The Department's Critical Crime Threat Level for this industrial
border city of 1.6 million people does not convey the scope of
the violence in Ciudad Juarez. Although Mexican media and
government sources offer varying crime statistics for Ciudad
Juarez, all sources indicate that there were at least 1600
murders committed in and around the city in 2008. More than 70
police officers and soldiers were killed in Ciudad Juarez during
the year. Mexican cartels battling for control of regional drug
trafficking routes caused widespread disruption in the
functioning of city, state and federal government agencies.
Cartel violence significantly undermined local confidence in the
capacity of Mexican government institutions, including the army,
to guarantee public security.

There were 55 known cases of kidnapping, and more than 300 known
cases of sexual assault and rape, including child molestation,
in the state of Chihuahua during 2008. Many crimes of this
nature are not reported to the police for reasons described
below in this report. Furthermore, there were approximately 86
bank robberies and 17,000 car thefts, including as many as 1,650
carjackings.

Violent crime is a fact of everyday life in Ciudad Juarez. No
trends indicate that criminals in Juarez specifically target
U.S. citizens. Instead, they select victims based on an
appearance of vulnerability, prosperity or inattentiveness,
particularly in the downtown bar area.

Americans in Juarez need to guard against robbery, theft, and
burglary. Displays of cash, jewelry or other signs of wealth
are magnets for armed street thieves and pickpockets, and items
of minor value left in a car can trigger a break-in even when
left for only a few minutes. Hotel guests should keep valuables
in secure locations. Do not leave jewelry, money, identity
documents, or other valuable items unattended in hotel rooms.


B. Personal Safety


1. Remain on constant alert for street crime (i.e. armed
robbery, pocket-picking, purse-snatching, ATM robbery, etc.).


2. Maintain a low profile. Dress casually and keep valuables
out of sight. Do not draw attention to yourself.


3. Vary your routine. Be unpredictable in your movements. Vary
your routes and your departure and arrival times.


4. Be alert to surveillance. Note and avoid anyone who appears
out of place along your routes to regularly scheduled
activities. Avoid sitting outside at restaurants. Instead, try
to find seats in areas not clearly visible from the street.


5. Stay informed. Be aware of popular scams and robbery tactics
used to distract your attention.


6. Reduce the incentive for someone to rob you and minimize the
possible loss. Do not carry valuables or large sums of money,
avoid wearing jewelry, and carry your wallet in your front
trouser pocket or front jacket pocket.


7. When hiring domestic help, check references and criminal
history as thoroughly as possible and ensure that they are
trained not to volunteer information to strangers or to allow
access to workers without prior authorization.


8. Take normal tourist precautions when drinking water and
eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads.


9. Do not buy prescription medications in Mexico unless you have
a prescription from a Mexican doctor.


C. Driver Safety

Driving in Juarez requires vigilance and a defensive attitude.
Local drivers are not uniformly well experienced, and often have
poorly maintained cars. Road signs and traffic lights are not
always clear. Drivers in Ciudad Juarez should give a wide berth
to public buses, which are known for careless driving.

Road conditions are poor in most areas outside of downtown.
Potholes and trenches can damage your car or cause drivers to
swerve into your lane or brake unexpectedly. Manhole covers may
be removed at any time, but more often when roads flood, in
order to drain an area more quickly. Open manholes are hard to
spot.


D. Protecting Your Vehicle

The head and taillights are held in place by easily accessible
screws. Install grilles around the lights.

If your tire is mounted on the outside the vehicle, secure it in
place with a chain and padlock or similar device.

Theft of a vehicle's operating computer is a common crime, as is
theft of car sound systems. Car alarms are strongly
recommended. Keep your vehicle free of anything of value, and
store out of plain view anything that would entice a thief.

Replace one lug nut on each wheel with a specially keyed bolt
that locks or can only be removed with a special attachment to
the tire iron.

Avoid leaving your vehicle on the street. Park inside a
residential compound, in a parking lot with an attendant, or
within view of the location of your visit.


E. Public Transportation

Avoid public transportation. In addition to harboring potential
pick-pockets, city buses are known for reckless driving. Taxis
in Juarez are generally safer and more reliable. Taxis are
required to be registered with the government, but they are
usually not metered and may overcharge. Taxis from the airport
are paid in advance in the terminal and are well regulated.

II. (U) Political Violence


A. Civil Unrest

Northern Mexico is not historically anti-American, but rather,
well-integrated by family and commercial ties with the U.S.
border states. Anti-American sentiment is seldom expressed
toward U.S. citizens in Ciudad Juarez. The infrequent
occurrences in Juarez of trade- or foreign policy-related
protest generally do not affect visitors and expatriates.


B. Demonstrations

Peaceful demonstrations against U.S. policies sometimes occur at
the U.S. Consulate General and the border bridges. Avoid
demonstrations because the potential for violence exists when
there is a crowd in Juarez.


C. International Terrorism

International drug trafficking organizations are responsible for
most of the homicides and other organized criminal activity in
Ciudad Juarez and the State of Chihuahua. Although no trends
indicate that US Citizens are specifically targeted for violence
by these organizations, assassinations of police officers and
other government officials, and other murders, often occur in
public places and in traffic in Ciudad Juarez. Any public place
at any time of day or night could turn into the wrong place at
the wrong time.

Lax immigration controls, the ease with which fake Mexican
travel documents can be obtained, and Mexico's geographic
location make the country an attractive transit point for
transnational terrorists.

III. (U) Post Specific Concerns


A. Murder

Drug related murders can occur anytime in any part of Ciudad
Juarez, and ordinary residents can be caught in the crossfire.
Remain alert for trouble at all times, and constantly review
escape routes and potential safe-havens as you travel in the
city.


B. Robbery

Commercial establishments and their patrons, such as stores and
restaurants, are increasingly targeted for robbery.


C. Kidnapping

There are many forms of kidnapping in Mexico. For instance,
"virtual kidnapping" is the term used when criminals falsely
claim to have kidnapped a victim in order to quickly obtain a
ransom, and those cases increased 500% in Ciudad Juarez in 2008
with more than 600 reported incidents. There have been
incidents where US Citizens were kidnapped in or near Ciudad
Juarez, but no trends indicate that US Citizens are being
specifically targeted.


D. Floods

Avoid driving during and after rainstorms because improper
drainage creates street flooding, submerged potholes and open
manholes.


IV. (U) Police Response


A. Crime Victim Assistance

The Mexican police emergency telephone number is 066, but
authorities may not respond to a call in a timely fashion, if at
all.

The Juarez city police force is undersized and underfunded.
Police training does not meet U.S. standards. At least 400
officers, one quarter of the police force, were fired in 2008
for gross ( drug cartel-related) corruption. Reporting a crime
is an archaic, exhausting process in Mexico, and is widely
perceived by Mexicans to be a waste of time except for the most
serious incidents or where a police report is required for
insurance purposes. A general perception is that most victims
do not report crimes against them due to the fear of reprisals
by the criminals, the belief that police are corrupt, or the
feeling that nothing would come from such reports. However,
victims should still report crimes.

The police may require accident or crime victims to accompany
them to a police station in order to make a report, but bear in
mind that criminals have impersonated Juarez police officers.
The police will charge a nominal fee if a police report is
required for an insurance claim or other purposes.

The American Citizen Services unit of the Consulate General
(numbers listed below) is available to assist victims.


B. Detention by Police

Before you begin driving in Juarez on a regular basis, photocopy
the following documents for the vehicle, driver, and each
passenger:

U.S. Passport ID page
Mexican Visa
U.S. Driver's License
Vehicle Registration (Tarjeta de Circulacion)
Proof of Insurance
Temporary or Free Entry Permit

If you are stopped by police authorities and do not believe that
you have done anything wrong, it may be better to give the
police officer the photocopies rather than your actual documents.

If the officer continues to question you or if Spanish language
issues make it hard to communicate, then give the following
statement to the officer:

"No hablo ni entiendo bien el espaqol. Si usted considera que
he cometido una infraccisn de transito, expida el recibo de
multa que la ampara. Si existe algzn otro problema, por favor
solicite la presencia de un elemento de policma que hable
ingles. Gracias."

This translates as:

"I do not speak or understand Spanish. If you believe I have
committed a traffic violation, then give me a ticket. If there
is some other problem, please request the assistance of another
policeman who can speak English. Thank you."

This suggested course of action is not intended to avoid
responsibility for legitimate traffic violations or infractions
of Mexican law.

Do not offer "tips" or bribes in any form to police officers
after a traffic stop. In the event that the officer should
suggest anything other than a normal resolution to a traffic
violation, note the officer's badge number, name tag, or police
vehicle number, and provide it to the American Citizen Services
section of the U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez (numbers
listed below) as soon as possible.


V. (U) Medical Emergencies

Call 066 in the event of a medical emergency. Information on
medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance
programs, is provided on the Department of State's Bureau of
Consular Affairs Medical Information for Americans Abroad
webpage:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures /brochures_121
5.html.


A. Health Concerns

Ciudad Juarez presents some health concerns regarding food, and
some travelers have adverse reactions to the pollution and dusty
environment. Therefore, health insurance is an important
consideration while in Mexico. Though increasing numbers of

Americans obtain health care in Mexico, elective surgery
facilities may lack access to sufficient emergency support.


B. Local Health Care Providers

The Consulate does not recommend any particular health provider
but lists
the following for informational purposes only:

Hospital Los Angeles
Campos Eliseos 9371
Fracc. Campos Eliseos
Cd. Juarez
Telephone - (656) 625-0611

Centro Medico de Especialidades
Av. de las Americas 201 Norte
Col. Margaritas
Cd. Juarez
Telephone - (656) 686-0400
Hospital Poliplaza Medica
Pedro Rosales de Leon 7510
Cd. Juarez
Telephone - (656) 617-3200, 617-0465

Hospital Star Medica
Paseo de la Victoria No 4370
Fracc. Partido Iglesias
Cd. Juarez
Telephone - (656) 227-5700

More information is listed on the website for the American
Citizen Services section of the U.S. Consulate:
http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/wwwhacs.h tml.


C. Air Ambulance Services

For medical transportation to the U.S., you may contact Air
Ambulance Professionals at: (800) 752-4195. Other companies are
listed on the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs
Medical Information for Americans Abroad webpage:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures /brochures_121
5.html.

VI. (U) Travel Precautions


A. Preparing Your Vehicle for Long Trips

Prior to road travel, ensure that your vehicle is in good
operating condition. Pay particular attention to the engine,
tires, brakes, head- and taillights, spare tire, jack, horn, and
fluid levels. Particularly on long trips to remote areas, try
to travel in tandem with other vehicles and advise someone of
your travel plans, including anticipated arrival and departure
times and contact numbers.

Take the following items on long road trips: (1) cellular
telephone with charger (although some areas between cities lack
coverage); (2) an extra spare tire; (3) portable gas can with
funnel; (4) potable water; (5) non-perishable food items; (6)
first aid kit; (7) blankets; and (8) fire extinguisher. You
will also need an emergency tool kit with the following items:
(1) flashlight and additional batteries; (2) battery-operated
radio; (3) extra fan belt/drive belt; (4) extra fuses, spark
plugs, and light bulbs; (5) duplicate ignition key; (6)
screwdrivers (regular and Phillips head); (7) socket wrench set;
(8) pliers; (9) Electrical tape; (10) Jumper cables; (11)
compressed air tire pump; (12) flares/reflectors; and (13) a
collapsible shovel.


B. Highway Driving

Highway driving can be precarious, especially at night. Avoid
travel after dark, and use inter-city toll highways whenever
possible. Toll roads are called cuotas in Mexico and are
indicated by the capital letter "D" printed below the highway
route number on area maps. Plan your route ahead of time.


C. Firearms

U.S. citizens must leave all weapons in the U.S. Bringing any
firearm or ammunition into Mexico is an offense punishable by
jail time, and small weapons such as pocketknives can result in
concealed weapons charges if you are detained by the police.

VII. Contact Information for the US Consulate General in Ciudad
Juarez


A. Telephone Numbers

To contact the U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez, call

656-227-3000. From the U.S. dial 915-534-6060 or
011-52-656-227-3000. The Mexico country code is 52, and the
Ciudad Juarez area code is 656.

Consulate hours are 0800-1645 M-F. The after-hours Emergency
Duty Officer telephone number is 044-656-327-7787 (if calling
from the U.S., dial 011-52-1-656-265-8484).


B. The U.S. Consulate General is located at:

Paseo de la Victoria #3650
Fracc. Partido Senecz
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua C.P. 32543

VIII. The point of contact for the OSAC Country Council is Oscar
Kuri at 656-632-5882 and okuri@celc-tat.com.mx.


MCGRATH