Drug Cartel Violence in Tamaulipas, Mexico
The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros, Tamaulipas issued a travel warning about drug cartels using land mines and other explosive devices in key border cities in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The Tamaulipas government initially tried to conceal information about these devices but later welcomed the warnings and advised the public to be cautious when moving through rural areas. Shootouts and the use of improvised explosive devices by cartel gunmen have been reported in various cities in the region, leading to injuries and fatalities. The state of Tamaulipas has been designated as a level 4, similar to active war zones.