U.S. issues south GoM pirate warning

MEXICO CITY - The U.S. government issued a warning June 17 about the threat posed by pirates to boats and oil installations in the southern Gulf of Mexico in the latest sign of concern about ongoing security challenges facing Mexico. “Armed criminal groups have been known to target and rob commercial vessels, oil platforms, and offshore supply vessels in the Bay of Campeche area in the southern Gulf of Mexico,” according to a U.S. State Department updated travel advisory. The overall risk level for Mexico remained the same, but the warning came after a several incidents over the past few months, including an attack last November on an Italian flagged vessel off the coast of the state of Campeche. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office 18 months ago and pledged to bring down gang-related violence across the country. Instead, homicides hit a new record in 2019 and are high this year as well. (Source: Reuters 06/17/20) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-usa-pirates/u-s-warns-of-pirates-in-southern-gulf-of-mexico-idUSKBN23O3SU