In early November 2021, a deadly drug dealer shooting happened at the beach just outside the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, killing two drug dealers over a dispute involving rival gangs. While no guests were injured, the hotel was sent into full lockdown, and the video footage of the incident is quite something.
For those wondering how something like that could happen, an investigation has now revealed more details, and I think this probably won’t surprise anyone.
Hotel staff allegedly helped guests find drugs
The Washington Post has a story about the incident that occurred at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun. According to security officials who investigated the incident:
- Guests at the hotel asked staff for help buying cocaine, which is apparently a common enough request of hotel employees in Mexico’s Mayan Riviera
- Staff at the Hyatt Ziva knew how to accommodate guests, and a few local drug dealers were called
- The dealers who arrived at the resort came from rival cartels, and that’s when shooting began
Lucio Hernández Gutiérrez, the security chief for Mexico’s Quintana Roo region, said the following:
“It was more proof that the only reason the cartels are here is because of the enormous demand for drugs, especially among tourists. It’s a very difficult thing to stop.”
Dean Sullivan, a spokesperson for Playa Hotels & Resorts, which manages the hotel, said the following:
“To suggest that our associates were, in any way, involved or bear a level of responsibility for an incident that began on a public beach is unfounded and without merit.”
This is obviously a tricky situation. A lot of people come to Mexico looking to do drugs, and presumably they can be obtained easily and inexpensively, at least compared to the United States. At the same time, drug incidents are much more likely to turn violent in Mexico, given how organized and violent the distribution networks are.
Guests were offered 75,000 World of Hyatt points
It’s interesting to note that following the incident, guests staying at the hotel during the incident received an apology letter and were offered 75,000 World of Hyatt points as compensation. Personally I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each, so that’s like $1,125 worth of points, by my valuation.
The letter doesn’t explicitly address what happened, but rather refers to “the very troubling experience you had during your stay.” The points were offered “as a further extension of the supportive actions of the hotel team, and as a gesture of our concern regarding the experience you had.”
Bottom line
In early November there was a shooting at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, leaving two drug dealers dead. An investigation has now revealed what exactly happened. Hotel guests wanted cocaine, and hotel staff tried to assist guests with that. However, rival gangs showed up. There was then a shooting at the beach, leaving two drug dealers dead.
What do you make of this incident?
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