Torched van of Australian surfers missing in Mexico found

[Gruppe B]

Does anyone have any experience travelling in Sinaloa? I have been wanting to take my family on a Westy trip thru Mexico to the Gulf of California but these endless stories are making me change my mind.

Poor guys...

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/van-australian-surfers-missing-mexico-dean-lucas-adam-coleman/

MEXICO CITY - Friends of two Australian tourists missing for more than a week in Mexico are looking to work with authorities in determining what happened to the men following a report that their burned van may have been found with two bodies inside in the drug gang-plagued state of Sinaloa, one of the friends said Sunday.

Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman were traveling from Edmonton, Alberta, to Mexico and had been scheduled to arrive on Nov. 21 in the city of Guadalajara but failed to appear, Coleman's girlfriend, Andrea Gomez, told The Associated Press from Guadalajara.

Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman
Dean Lucas, left, and Adam Coleman, in photos taken from a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend GOFUNDME USER KAYE MAYTUM
The families of the two men issued a statement through Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade saying they were aware of reports that the men had gone missing during a surfing trip to Mexico.

The families added that they were aware Mexican officials had located the van the men were using. The statement said "a tragic event has occurred."

In a statement posted to a GoFundMe page set up for the families by user Kaye Maytum, the family said: "They hold deep fears for the safety of their sons but stress that they are still waiting for details to be confirmed."

Officials in Sinaloa declined to comment about the matter.

Gomez initially said that she and Lucas' partner, Josie Cox, would go to the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan on Monday with items that could provide DNA for testing to see if the two bodies reportedly found inside the burned van were the Australians. Gomez said that Cox arrived in Mexico on Sunday with Lucas' dental records and that Gomez had "pieces of dreadlocks" given to her by Coleman.

"Everything points to it being them because the van matches; it had a bicycle. But nothing is confirmed yet," Gomez said.

She later said that she and Cox would go first to Mexico City to contact the Australian Embassy rather than go to Sinaloa.


A statement from the Australian foreign ministry said consular officials were working with Mexican authorities to locate the two men.

The missing Australians who were driving Cox's van had been scheduled meet Gomez in Guadalajara, she said. She said she and Cox put out an alert on social media after reporting the men missing.

Sinaloa, home of the powerful cartel led by fugitive drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, stretches down Mexico's Pacific coast and would be on the route of most road trips to Guadalajara from western Canada.

"They were hurrying to get here; that's why they were traveling at night," she said.

[TDCTDI]

I have a friend whose parents were murdered in Mexico & another who was abducted & released after cleaning out his bank account (he readily gave them password info hoping they'd release him, fortunately they did). I personally have no desire to go to an area where the only thing more murderous than the cartels is the federales. Traveling with a nice shiny anything is just going to draw some unwanted attention.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[hitest]

The days of safe travel are simply over down there. There's no reason to even think twice or even muster opinions. When ANY country's government decides that violent crime is acceptable- that's when you simply don't go there. Don't support their tourism, don't support their trade, and especially don't go back to preach to them. Unless there are at least four of their prisoner's being held here for our President to trade for you- don't go there.
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[Bruce]

[ALLWAGONS]

I am Mexican, and I WOULD NOT travel through Mexico by car. back in the day, I drove a '66 bus, a '64 type 34 a '56 oval and a couple of '71 buses with no problem or fear. Things have changed in Mexico. Whether it is the Cartels, gangs or the government it is not safe. There is safety in numbers and your chances of becoming a target are less if you travel by day and with others. I feel sorry for those tourists as Mexico has some awesome and beautiful places to visit. It is funny how no matter how remote the place is, you will always find an American or Gringo as they are called.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

NON INFLUENCER APPROVED

[Malokin Martin]

The amount of fear mongering that is spread by would be travelers keeps the fun places empty and fun.

Does the fact that you own a supremely unsafe, outdated 50 year old foreign car keep you from driving/enjoying your aircooled Volkswagen daily?

1.) Learn the language/customs.
2.) Don't be a dick.
3.) Use common sense.

Those are the rules. If you don't want something stolen, don't take it to Mexico. I've done a huge amount of solo travel down south, both in a car and just with a backpack, and I still have all my fingers and toes.

[Erik G]

how long ago? The last 5 or so years have been extremely bad - I'm with Martin, no way I'd venture past the tourist areas nowadays. Locals get kidnapped, held for ransom, and killed. In Sinaloa, it's illegal for locals to even report on the violence
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Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Bruce]

[enjoyther1de]

I say we take over Mexico... Make it awesome...
But seriously, does anybody think we couldn't end the cartels tomorrow if we really wanted to? Our government makes way too much money to shut them down. Viva mehico...
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HBB took me to BBV.

[Bruce]

Looks like they caught the banditos:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mexico-arrests-3-alleged-drug-dealers-assumed-slaying-213810141.html

Unfortunately the two Aussies broke the rules badly and died from it. Poor route planning too. Driving all the way down the Baja en route to Guadalajara is a pretty dumb route. Then taking the ferry from La Paz to Los Mochis just wastes time when you're in a rush to get somewhere. The article says they landed off the ferry at 10:30 pm. They should have stayed the night in Los Mochis, but they didn't. From where they were robbed, it surely was well past midnight. That's even worse than driving in the late evening.

While they don't have the death penalty in Mexico, they also don't have parole. Likely the killers will get a sentence up in the triple digits.
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[crukab]

Back in the earlie 1980s we lived in Boulder Co., a Prof from CU Boulder went to Mexico for research,next thing you know, he is "Missing", and the local Police Cheif is driving his truck around, I guess things have not changed much.....
Don't drive at night, WTF is that ??
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Tom

My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....

In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon

[WestyBob]

It's all a risk and that's still low for foreign travelers. However, the odds mean nothing if you're the one compromised.

In addition to other recommendations, pass through and keep well clear of border towns and locate a secure camping spot well before dusk.

Last, there are many Vw blogs and sites that talk about Mex. traveling -- tips, do's and don't's, insurance, money exchange, etc.

For a first time I'd recommend going with others in a caravan if possible until you become familiar.

[TrulyVintage]

[Bruce]

[TrulyVintage]

Whether you have American or Canadian citizenship - you have no rights in Mexico.

In the last (3) years - things have changed dramatically.

Former US serviceman who served going back as far as Vietnam have been deported back to Mexico - some on misdemeanor violations - because they
never bothered to obtain legal US Citizenship.

Their choice often is to serve the Cartels or die.

The increase in border & interior violence is a direct result of the " talents "
of some of these unfortunate deportees.

As the drug trade has been squeezed - revenue has shifted to kidnapping & robbery & sometimes death.

You have no rights when you cross the border.

I have been stopped while driving in Mexico - more than once.

I have paid small bribes - I have been shaken down.

If an authority asks for your drivers license and/or passport
and does not return it - you are screwed.

I would NEVER laugh at an authority in Mexico. ...

Arrogance will land you in hot water & cost you potentially your life.

If I want to gamble I go to a casino.

Not to Mexico where the house odds are overwemingly stacked
against you ....
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Jim is on the road @ http://www.trulyvintagetrailers.citymax.com/trulyvintage-feedback.html

[Bruce]

[vdubyah73]

[TrulyVintage]

[TrulyVintage]

" If a traffic cop asks for your driver's licence, don't give it to him. Show it, but don't let go of it. I know many people who do this. The legitimate reason they want your licence is to hold it ransom for the traffic fine. They give you a ticket and take your licence to the police station. When you pay the fine, you get your licence back. Or just pay the guy $10-15 on the side of the road and be on your way. Even if they take your licence, how does this mean "you are screwed"? "

Again ...

Mexico is a foreign country.

It is NOT Canada or the United States.

Take a LONG HARD LOOK at the image in first post on this thread.

Those two guys are dead.

What happened to them was " illegal ".

Talking about what is " illegal " for an enforcement officer to do
in Mexico when you are NOT a citizen and are being detained
is ....

IF you are asked to give your driver's license and/or passport,
if you don't comply, you are subject to arrest.

IF you don't pay a suitable bribe to the roadside cop,
you pay a larger bribe at the station and more money
the further things go.



Arrongance & the illusion you have rights in Mexico is what
gets people shot - killed - buried in a shallow grave.

If you want to keep your " rights " then stay in your country.

They don't follow you across the border.
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Jim is on the road @ http://www.trulyvintagetrailers.citymax.com/trulyvintage-feedback.html

[Bruce]