Some high-altitude parts of México state received heavy snowfall on Monday. (Antenas Retransmisoras Cerro Jocotitlán/Facebook)
An arctic air mass and a cold front combined to produce some postcard-worthy snapshots Tuesday morning in central Mexico — and some good headlines.
“¡Blanca Navidad!” (White Christmas!) beamed one, while others read “Tormenta de nieve” (snowstorm) and “Nevada deja bellos paisajes” (snowfall leaves beautiful landscapes).
Mexico is bracing for another cold front, as snow and temperatures as low as -8 Celsius sweep the country. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Flakes fell at higher elevations overnight, leaving a snow-capped scene on the top slopes of Xinantécatl – better known as Nevado de Toluca – in México state. At 4,680 meters (15,354 feet) above sea level, the stratovolcano is the fourth-highest Mexican peak.
Additionally, Jocotitlán Hill in México state looked like a winter wonderland in some parts. The “hill,” where television broadcast antennas are located, is actually an inactive volcano that shoots up to 3,953 meters (12,969 feet) above sea level, making it Mexico’s 12th-highest peak.
Adrián Romero, director of civil protection agency Sinaproc, said that additional snowfall is expected on Tuesday, or overnight into Wednesday, in areas at least 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) above sea level. No communities are situated that high, he added.
The effects of cold front number 16, which arrived less than a week after cold number front 15,included cold temperatures throughout the country, including –7° C in Sonora and –8° C in Chihuahua. In the north, it should remain frosty throughout the week because another cold front is expected Wednesday or Thursday.
Snow is falling on many of Mexico’s highest peaks, particularly in the center of the country. (Antenas Retransmisoras Cerro Jocotitlán/Facebook)
The National Meteorological Service predicted that cold front number 16 will extend today to the western Caribbean Sea, causing heavy to very heavy rains in southern portions of Mexico.
Downpours have already caused rivers and streams to rise in northern Chiapas.
Authorities there reported that 24 homes were flooded amidst landslides and road closures in the municipality of Tila, Chiapas. The flooding there trapped three people in their homes, but they were rescued and taken to a shelter.
Temperatures on Tuesday in the Valley of México are expected to range from 1° to 17° C. Snow might resume falling at higher elevations, mainly on volcanoes such as Pico de Orizaba, Mexico’s highest peak (18,491 feet), Popocatépetl (Mexico’s second highest peak) and Iztaccíhuatl (the third highest).
Mexican checkpoints at the U.S.-Mexico border have struggled to meet operational demands during a record year for migration. As a result, the government has taken the decision to suspend border checks for the foreseeable future. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s National Immigration Institute (INM) has suspended deportations of undocumented migrants due to a lack of resources, following a year of record-breaking transit of migrants through the country.
INM head Francisco Garduño ordered the suspension on Dec. 1, in an internal memo that was seen and verified by the Associated Press and later by Mexican news media.
Migrant crossings are particularly high in Coahuila. Without deportation services operated by the Mexican government, it is unclear how migrants who have been detained will be repatriated to their home countries. (Alejandro Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
In Mexico’s northern border cities, the newspaper Milenio spoke with several officials who confirmed the halt of deportations, adding that Mexican border guards no longer even approach people who appear to be migrants.
“It is the responsibility of [Mexico’s] federal government to address the migration issue,” said Oscar Ibáñez, the Chihuahua governor’s representative in Ciudad Juárez. “Resources need to be allocated in the budget, and this lack of resources needs to be declared a crisis.”
Several officials expressed alarm that the halt to deportations would trigger even greater migrant arrivals at the northern border, and possible closures of international bridges into the United States. The state of Texas and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have already ordered several border crossing closures this year, causingheavy financial losses. In Piedras Negras, Coahuila, the Eagle Pass International Bridge has currently been closed for more than a week.
“There is no intention in the Customs offices to reopen the bridge,” one INM official told Milenio. “Every day, about 2,000 people arrive who want to cross the border.”
The crossing at Ciudad Juarez is one of the busiest on the border, with around 2000 prospective migrants attempting to cross every day. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro)
Meanwhile, the suspension of deportations has left thousands of migrants who have already been served deportation orders in limbo – a situation exacerbated by the closure of many publicly-funded migrant shelters.
“These are desperate people who would like to go back to their home countries, but there are no more federal resources,” said Gladys Cañas, a representative of a pro-migrant organization in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, where an estimated 3,000 migrants are stranded.
The INM has a budget of 1.7 billion pesos (US $98 million) for 2023. Legislators have asked to increase this to 1.9 billion pesos (US $109 million) for 2024, given this year’s historic arrivals of migrants.
In the first ten months of the year, 588,626 migrants were detained in Mexico – 25% more than in all of 2022, and 90% more than in all of 2021. Asylum applications are expected to reach at least 140,000 by the end of the year – 15% more than the record 130,000 set in 2021. Venezuelans make up a large proportion of these migrants, and many of them are children.
These unprecedented numbers are causing huge strain not only in Mexico’s northern border cities, but also further south. Overflowing migrant shelters in Mexico City have pushed many migrants to sleep in the streets, while growing numbers of migrants are moving into Mexico’s southern tourist towns to find work.
Diana Chavolla, head of one migrant shelter in Oaxaca, told Milenio she expected the suspension of deportations to increase migrant flows by up to 60%.
“Without resources, INM agents cannot carry out operations,” she said. “Hopefully this doesn’t get out of hand.”
Industry experts are concerned the fee hike will cause ticket prices to go up next year. (Ulrike Stein / Shutterstock)
The Mexico City International Airport (AICM) has announced that a range of airport fees will increase significantly in 2024, a move the National Chamber of Air Transport (Canaero) says will have a negative effective on Mexico’s competitiveness and raise the cost of airplane tickets.
The navy has been in charge of security at the Mexico City International Airport since early 2022 and was given full control this year. (Tomás Acosta Ordaz / Cuartoscuro.com)
What are the increases?
Fees payable by airlines for landing, the boarding and disembarkation of passengers, overnight stays for aircraft and the revision of passengers and their hand luggage are all going up by around 77%.
The fee increases apply to both domestic and international flights. The fees for the latter are significantly higher than those for the former.
The total amount payable by airlines for each flight varies depending on the weight of the aircraft they are operating, the number of passengers on board and the length of time their plane is remaining at the airport.
The airport use fee (TUA) for AICM will also increase on Jan. 1, 2024, but the hike is a much more modest 3.2%. The TUA will be US $28.95 for domestic passengers and $54.96 for international ones next year. The fee in pesos fluctuates depending on the prevailing USD:MXN exchange rate.
The argument for raising AICM fees
The AICM and SEMAR noted that the current airport service fees haven’t increased in over 13 years.
They also highlighted that the AICM fees are significantly lower than those at the 34 Mexican airports operated by the publicly-listed ASUR, GAP and OMA airport groups.
The increase in fees at the AICM may motivate more carriers to move to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (pictured). (Cuartoscuro)
Even with the 77% increases, the new fees will continue to be lower than the ASUR/GAP/OMA average, the AICM and SEMAR said.
They said that the fee increases are among “the actions and measures” that the current AICM management is undertaking to make the airport more efficient and to strengthen its financial position.
The federal government declared in early 2022 that both AICM terminals had reached saturation point, and has been seeking to ease pressure on it by encouraging airlines to shift some of their operations to the army-built Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), which opened at a location just north of Mexico City last year.
Will airlines choose to make greater use of AIFA now that AICM fees are going up?
The aviation sector’s response to the AICM fee hike
Canaero outlined its opposition to the AICM/SEMAR announcement in a statement titled: “Excessive increase in AICM fees affects the country’s competitiveness and raises ticket prices.”
Today the AICM is the country’s busiest airport and serves as a hub for Latin America. (Depositphotos)
The 77% increase to the four airport service fees is not justified given the “high profitability” of the AICM, Canaero said.
Aviation sector companies and airline passengers will be adversely affected by the excessively high increases, the association said, adding that they will “take away competitiveness from the country’s main air connectivity center and all of Latin America.”
Canaero said that the AICM has “historically” generated sufficient income for the “optimal operation” of the airport, but much of that money is “diverted to purposes other than those of its operation.”
“… In 2022, the AICM generated almost 18.5 billion pesos [US $1.06 billion at the current exchange rate] and over 73% of [that amount] came from TUA passenger fees and airline airport service fees. The underlying problem is that [the airport’s] income isn’t wholly allocated to maintain and increase infrastructure,” the chamber said.
“… Canaero continues to acknowledge that the management of AICM by the Ministry of the Navy has been successful, orderly, neutral and transparent, but they’re working with very limited resources due to the diversion of … [airport] income,” it added.
The association issued an “urgent” appeal to financial authorities, saying that they should allow the AICM to use its own income to ensure that it is able to operate adequately.
“Canaero and its members are fully willing to … [contribute] with time and talent so that aviation in Mexico is competitive, accessible and continues to be a driver of economic development and social well-being. The solution mustn’t be making public services more expensive for the [Mexican] population and tourists,” it concluded.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Latin American Air Transport Association and the National Tourism Business Council were also critical of the announced fee increases at the AICM.
“This decision will raise air fares for passengers, negatively affect airlines and jeopardize the country’s competitiveness,” the IATA said.
“Raising operating costs at Mexico’s main aviation hub is in stark contrast to the Mexican federal government decision to reduce fees and increase costs efficiencies at other airports in the country. Moreover, the Airport Usage Tax (TUA) at AICM is already one of the highest in the world,” it added.
“… IATA is asking that the increases be reconsidered, especially since the facilities at AICM have further deteriorated, thus not reflecting the high cost paid by airlines and passengers,” the Montreal-based association said.
“… AICM could operate in a profitable manner if its revenues were not used to fund other projects – such as the repayment of loans related to the canceled Texcoco Airport – but rather be reinvested into the maintenance, improvement and enhancements of its infrastructure and facilities.”
Are you looking for the perfect gift for your new Mexican suegros (in-laws)? Or maybe it’s your first year in Mexico, and you want to get yourself something nice that reflects your new geographic coordinates.
No matter what the occasion, it’s always better to support local businesses and creators, especially in a country as talented – and diverse – as Mexico.
Here’s the roundup of tiendas where you can shop small this holiday season in Mexico City, Mérida, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende.
CDMX
Super Cope
Calle Gral. Antonio León 31, San Miguel Chapultepec
Super Cope (Instagram)
Super Cope calls itself an Abarrotería Cooperativa, or Cooperative Corner Store, where you can find cute gastronomic gift sets of locally made botanitas, salsas, beers, mezcals and more.
Incendiarias
Calle Marsella 60, Juárez
Incendiarias is a woman-owned gallery and gift shop that sells affordable prints of artwork by local artists, notepads and journals, books, candles, calendars and more. It also has a well-stocked online shop for those who prefer to do some (browser) window shopping first.
Casa de Luna
Francisco Ortega 23, Coyoacán
Located in the center of Coyoacán, you won’t find a better selection of traditional Indigenous art and handicrafts than at Casa de Luna. The boutique’s textiles, grabados and ceramics are sourced from every corner of the country. After you’ve bought a few or fifty things, head around the corner for a bite to eat at Casa de Los Tacos.
Bazar Resiliente
Colima 194, Roma Norte
Once monthly, Bazar Resiliente takes over the mansion of Centro Gallego in the heart of Roma Norte. At each edition, you can find over 50 vendors spanning fashion brands, jewelers, chefs and ceramicists. Keep your eyes on their instagram for information on the next date.
Happening Store (also in Mérida)
Tabasco 210, Roma Norte
A classic “concept store,” Happening is where you can indeed find all kinds of things happening: fun slogans, home decor, jewelry, clothing, art, gifts for your dog… Hit Happening if you’re out of ideas and you’ll be sure to think of at least a few more people to buy gifts for this year.
Mérida
Casa Consciente
Calle 7 278F, Campestre
For the eco-conscious shopper, Casa Consciente offers a variety of local products that all adhere to the store’s focus on sustainable, cruelty-free and slow goods. Swing by their upcoming Conscious Bazar on Dec. 16, and enjoy a healthy lunch at their on-site restaurant, María y Yo.
Zamá MID
At the corner of Calle 57 and Calle 66, Barrio Santiago
Zamá MID
Located in the Santiago neighborhood of downtown Mérida, Zamá is a haven of handmade apparel and home goods. At Zamá, you’ll find the best in contemporary Mexican design, and unique pieces that work for both casual and formal styles. Preview their online store here.
Color Amor
Calle 55 510D, Centro
If you’re looking for artesanías, Color Amor is your one-stop shop. Now in its 10th year, Color Amor knows the classics – modern huipils, embroidered bags and wallets, vibrant throws and huaraches.
Oaxaca
Flor Cacao
Calle de Manuel Bravo 210, Centro
Find the perfect gift for a chocolate lover at Flor Cacao, a quaint café and candy shop tucked away in the center of Oaxaca city. Their special 10-piece chocolate tree is built into a precious red box that adds the right touch of luxury.
Mexchic
Calle de Manuel Bravo 307, Centro
Mexchic (Instagram)
Right down the road from Flor Cacao is Mexchic, a clothing boutique featuring one-of-a-kind pieces made using traditional techniques. Stop in and try on unique textures that will transport you to the heart of Oaxaca.
Suculenta
Calle Porfirio Díaz 211, Centro
Salsas, spices and spirits are what you’ll find at Suculenta, a general store where you can find great homemade gifts for foodies.
Puerto Vallarta
Art & Market Marina Vallarta
Calle Popa, Marina Vallarta
A Vallarta classic, the Marina-area Art & Market is a must-see on your holiday shopping spree. Every Thursday evening, find local art, crafts, food and music, all in one picturesque place.
Hilo & el mar
Hamburgo 148, Versalles
Hilo & el mar (Instagram)
The beautiful boutique of Vallarta brands Hilo & el mar, Taller Umi and Calmar. Here, you’ll find breezy beach dresses, sweet details to decorate your home, and fun skirts for a night out in the Romantic Zone.
Pakalita
Paseo de las Palmas 3 – Local 14, Plaza 3.14, Nuevo Vallarta
Think traditional threads and frills but with a coastal vibe. Pakalita works with artesans from all over Mexico and seeks to elevate Huichol, Zapotec and Tzotzil designs within their catalog of clothing, home goods and jewelry.
San Miguel de Allende
La Victoriana
Calle del Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 72, Centro
Family-owned beauty pharmacy La Victoriana is the place to go for all natural, small-batch skincare. In addition to facial creams and body oils, La Victoriana makes lovely aromatic pillow sprays and calming remedies for all ages.
Mixta
Mixta in San Miguel de Allende. (Mixta)
Pila Seca 3, Centro
Check out Mixta Shop for gorgeous jewelry, clothes and decorative gifts, including embroidered throw pillows, candles and folk art.
Solana SMA
Solana is known for its colorful glassware inspired by the Mexican tradition of talavera. Take home a unique set for the person on your list who appreciates the tilework of colonial Mexico, as these glasses are sure to evoke similar delight. Shop online here.
Octágono
Tenerías 2, Centro
The wine lovers on your list will appreciate a unique blend from winemaker Marcelo Castro Vera, who runs a natural winery that uses clay vessels made by regional potters. Visit the tasting room to pick up a bottle, or book a wine tasting with Marcelo himself.
Canadian travelers will have more options for flying to Cancún and the Riviera Maya next year. (Cuartoscuro)
The Canadian budget airline Lynx Air will soon open a new service from Toronto to Cancún, giving Canadians a new low-cost option to visit the Mexican Caribbean.
The route will start operating on Feb. 15, 2024, with daily flights from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport aboard a 189-seat Boeing 737 MAX-8. Tickets will cost CAD 179 (US $132) each way.
Lynx Air, which previously operated as Enerjet, will compete alongside several other Canadian airlines serving Mexico. (ArchCardinal / Wikimedia Commons)
“With winter approaching, we know Canadians love to travel south in search of warmer weather and sandy beaches,” said Lynx Air’s Chief Commercial Officer Vijay Bathija in October. “We are thrilled to be offering an ultra-affordable option to Cancún, one of the most popular sun destinations in Mexico.”
Cancún will be Lynx Air’s eighteenth destination since the self-described “ultra-affordable” airline launched in 2022. It is also Lynx’s first destination in Mexico, bringing the airline’s network up to three countries.
The new service will have to compete with seven other Canadian airlines that already operate in Mexico – Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Transat, Canada Jetlines, Flair Airlines, Sunwing Airlines and Westjet.
Toronto to Cancún is the main air link between Mexico and Canada, with 547,221 passengers flying the route in the first nine months of 2023, according to Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC). Lynx Air’s new service will bring the route up to 87 flights and more than 19,000 seats per week.
Nevertheless, industry insiders are confident that Lynx’s low-budget service can still offer passengers something new.
“Demand for Cancún continues to be incredibly high for passengers traveling from Toronto Pearson,” said Janik Reigate, Strategic Customer Relations Director at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “We welcome Lynx’s new service as it will provide passengers with another option to fly to the sunny beaches of Mexico.”
Three quakes occurred over three minutes this morning in the capital, accompanied by confusion and of course, the proper dose of humor. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Three brief earthquakes shook Mexico City late Tuesday morning causing residents to quickly evacuate buildings, though no seismic alarm sounded.
Over the course of three minutes, three “micro-quakes” occurred with epicenters in the city’s southwest borough of Álvaro Obregón, beginning at 11:06 a.m. local time. The first quake registered a magnitude of 2.8, followed one minute later by a 3.0-magnitude quake at 11:07, and a third with a magnitude of 2.4 at 11:08.
The earthquakes were felt in the boroughs surrounding Álvaro Obregón, including Benito Juárez and Cuauhtémoc. (Juan Pablo Zamora/Cuartoscuro)
“An earthquake has been detected in Mexico City; at this moment we are establishing communications with the risk management and civil protection units of the boroughs. Information coming soon,” Myriam Urzua Venegas, Mexico City’s Integral Risk Management and Civil Protection minister, posted on X (formerly Twitter) at 11:09 a.m.
While residents waited for further information, social media was flooded with memes connecting the seismic activity with the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which draws millions of faithful to the capital every year on Dec. 12.
Tuesday’s “micro-quakes” are the second (third and fourth) earthquakes to be felt in Mexico City in less than a week. On Thursday, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the area of Chiautla de Tapia, Puebla, triggering the seismic alert system in the Valley of Mexico.
Upon confirming that the quakes originated within city limits, Mexico City’s Center of Control, Command, Communication, Computer and Quality (C5) posted a short video on X explaining that when earthquake epicenters are located within a close range of the capital, the seismic alarm is not triggered.
“In the case of earthquakes that occur inside the Valley of Mexico, it is impossible to establish an opportune warning,” Juan Manuel García Ortegón, head of the C5, says in the video.
At the time of publication, no material damages had been reported following the earthquakes in the capital.
The president showed the new Maya Train guide to reporters at the Monday morning press conference. (Cuartoscuro)
An official guidebook will help Maya Train passengers get the most out of their trip on the soon-to-be operational railroad.
Ahead of this Saturday’s inaugural trip between Campeche and Cancún, the federal government on Monday presented the Gran Guía del Tren Maya (Great Guide to the Maya Train), which will be distributed free of charge to the first 10,000 passengers and subsequently made available for purchase.
The Maya Train will serve its first passengers starting Saturday, inaugurating a new era in passenger train travel in Mexico. (trenmaya.gob.mx)
“Starting Friday we’ll have the Gran Guía del Tren Maya,” Diego Prieto, director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, told President López Obrador’s morning press conference.
The guide includes information about the Maya Train stations, the natural attractions, archaeological sites and beaches along the route and the region’s gastronomy, he said.
“I believe it’s a very useful tool to allow the visitors to the southeast [of Mexico] and the Yucatán Peninsula to appreciate the immense cultural, archaeological, historical, scenic [and] gastronomic attractions … of this great region of Mexico,” Prieto said.
It was unclear whether the guide contained information in English in addition to Spanish, or whether the government planned to publish separate editions in English and other languages.
Maya Train chief Óscar Lozano told the president’s press conference that the railroad will operate 365 days a year and that tickets will soon be sold via an official Maya Train website. Tickets are currently being sold on the e-ticket website.
Lozano also said that tickets will eventually be available at Maya Train stations and airports in the five states through which the railroad will run, among other locations. To avoid the resale of tickets through third parties, a maximum of five tickets will be available to purchasers, he said.
The second section to become operational will be that between Cancún and Palenque, Chiapas.
López Obrador said last month that the Cancún-Palenque section will open on Dec. 31, while the entire railroad and its 34 stations will be operational on Feb. 29, 2024.
The multi-billion-dollar project will connect cities and towns in five states: Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Chiapas.
RMSF is a tickborne disease that can infect humans, dogs and other animals. (Erik Karits/Unsplash)
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a health advisory for those traveling to northern Mexico, after three deaths from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) were reported among recent visitors to Tecate, Baja California.
RMSF (sometimes known as rickettsia in Spanish) is a potentially deadly bacterial disease spread by bites from infected brown dog ticks. It cannot be spread from person to person. The disease has been found in urban areas of several north Mexican states, including Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo León.
A CDC poster describes the signs and symptoms of RMSF. (U.S. CDC)
Its symptoms can include fever, headache, stomach problems, swelling around the eyes and on the back of the hands, and sometimes a rash that emerges 2-4 days after infection. The CDC warns that it is a severe and rapidly progressive disease that can be fatal within days if not treated promptly with the antibiotic doxycycline.
The CDC sounded the alarm after five cases were identified in Southern California since July, all involving people who had traveled to Tecate, Baja California in the previous two weeks. All five were hospitalized, and three died. Four were under age 18.
So far, no information has been released regarding deaths from the outbreak in Mexico, although the CDC estimates that RMSF’s fatality rate in Mexico could exceed 40%.
For now, the CDC’s travel advisory remains at the lowest Level 1, meaning “Practice Usual Precautions.” These include using insect repellent, checking your body and clothing for ticks, and treating your pet with tick-preventives if traveling with a dog.
The CDC urged travelers in northern Mexico to protect themselves and their dogs from ticks like this brown dog tick, which can carry RMSF. (James Gathany; William Nicholson/CDC)
Travelers are warned that ticks can be tiny and their bites painless, so you may not realize you have been bitten. For this reason, it is important to seek medical attention if you develop any symptoms within two weeks of travel to northern Mexico.
While early symptoms are often mild and non-specific, if untreated they may progress after about five days to cause an altered mental state, coma, brain swelling, respiratory problems and multi organ damage. Most deaths occur within eight days of the onset of illness. Children under 10 are five times more likely to die from RMSF.
The good news is that doxycycline is considered a safe and effective treatment for RMSF in children and adults of all ages — as long as it is administered as soon as the condition is suspected.
“Do not delay treatment pending laboratory confirmation,” the CDC advises doctors. “Early treatment saves lives.”
The pharmacies, located in the tourist town of Ensenada, were suspected of selling potentially dangerous counterfeit medications. (Juan Pablo Guerra)
The detection of fake or fentanyl-laced pills in drug stores in an action dubbed “Operation Albatross II” has resulted in the closure of 31 pharmacies in the Baja California municipality of Ensenada.
The federal health regulator Cofepris suspended the pharmacies for their “irregular sale of drugs and the presence of medications possibly contaminated with fentanyl,” the agency said in a press release Friday.
The off-brand pharmacies were spread across the city, which is a popular destination for U.S. tourists looking for off-prescription pharmaceuticals. (infoisinfo)
More than 4,000 boxes of medicines were seized during what the agency called “verification visits” to 53 pharmacies. The raids were conducted by specialized Cofepris personnel in coordination with the Mexican Navy, allowing for simultaneous visits to various locations in the municipality of 443,000 people.
Samples from the 4,681 seized boxes of medicine were analyzed to determine their authenticity, adulterations or the presence of fentanyl.
A list of the 31 now-shuttered pharmacies was included in the press release. Most are not among Mexico’s five biggest pharmacy chains, with one exception: a Farmacia Guadalajara on Calle Novena in central Ensenada.
This location was cited for having “73 boxes of controlled medications” worth 168,507 pesos (US $9,658).
Cheaply manufactured counterfeit drugs often contain dangerous levels of fentanyl or other drugs. (CBP)
According to the Associated Press, the action “represents one of the first times Mexican authorities have acknowledged” what UCLA researchers pointed out last year after visiting 40 Mexican pharmacies: “that Mexican pharmacies were offering controlled medications like Oxycodone, Xanax or Adderall, but the pills were often fentanyl-laced fakes.”
Officials never said whether the pills seized in Quintana Roo contained fentanyl, but they did say the cited pharmacies were selling expired medicine that was possibly counterfeit, and that their record-keeping was not up to standards.
In March, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning, noting that pills being sold at pharmacies in Mexico “may contain deadly doses of fentanyl.”
“These counterfeit pills represent a serious overdose risk to buyers who think they are getting a known quantity of a weaker drug,” Chelsea Shover, assistant professor-in-residence of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said earlier this year.
Renata Zarazúa runs to save a low shot during the Montevideo Open semi-finals on Saturday (Montevideo Open).
A 26-year-old from Mexico City who has never won an event on the top women’s pro tennis tour was all smiles on Sunday after making history in the Montevideo Open in Uruguay.
In a grueling match that lasted nearly three hours, second-seeded Renata Zarazúa of Mexico beat top-seeded Diane Parry of France to become the first Mexican to ever win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament.
Diane Parry of France was the top-seeded competitor for womens singles (Montevideo Open).
However, it didn’t count as an actual WTA Tour victory because it came in a second-tier WTA 125 event. Sometimes called the WTA Challenger tour, WTA 125 tournaments are the second-highest level of women’s competition behind the top-level WTA Tour.
Still, for Zarazúa, the 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the final was huge, as were her four victories to reach the final. Her world ranking improved 23 spots to 105 — an impressive climb for someone who came into 2023 ranked 368th and was unable to ascend any higher than 227th until August.
Her first career WTA 125 victory earned her US $15,000, boosting her 2023 prize money in singles to US $114,594 and her career earnings to US $646,943.
Zarazúa was born in Mexico City. Her great-uncle Vicente Zarazúa played in 16 Davis Cup events for Mexico and won a gold medal in exhibition doubles in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, and her older brother, Patricio, played Division II college tennis in Florida (and is now her coach).
Zarazúa celebrates her win after the final match. (Montevideo Open)
Zarazúa made her pro debut as a 15-year-old in 2012, winning one match in an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament outside of San Antonio, Texas.
Over the last decade, she has played mainly second-tier WTA 125 and third-tier ITF events, along with 28 tournaments on the main WTA Tour, including a first-round loss this year in the Guadalajara Open in September.
Her Grand Slam experience is limited to a stunning first-round win and a second-round loss in the French Open in 2020, when she won three preliminary matches just to qualify — thereby becoming the first Mexican woman to make the main draw of a major in 20 years.
One of her career highlights occurred in 2020, when she received a wild card to play in the Mexican Open in Acapulco, then shocked top-seeded American Sloane Stephens in the first round and advanced to the semifinals.
She also qualified for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, losing in the first round in both singles and doubles.
