Acapulco: The Rise of the Drug Lords

With its famous bay, white sand beaches and oversized hotel complexes, Acapulco has long been considered a tourism paradise. But for the past ten years, the Mexican resort has been torn apart by inter-cartel drugs violence. Today, Acapulco has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world – the crossing point between Columbia, the world’s top cocaine producer, and the United States, its buyer. Here, drug gangs wage a ruthless war on the streets and in broad day light as they seek total control over the territories in which they operate.

In an attempt to end the bloodbath, the federal and state governments have launched major operations, filling the city with army and police. But are the government’s efforts yielding real results? And how are Acapulco’s inhabitants and persisting tourists coping with the city’s relentless stream of violence?