A tragic incident unfolded in Cancun, Mexico, as a 12-year-old boy lost his life when gunmen opened fire on a rival drug dealer on a beach. The boy, who was enjoying a day out with his family, was hit by stray bullets while lying on a lounge chair on the beach. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the child succumbed to his injuries. The perpetrators, riding jet skis, quickly fled the scene. Authorities revealed that the intended target was a rival drug dealer involved in a dispute over drug sales. This incident sheds light on the territorial disputes between drug dealers, which have sadly resulted in the deaths of multiple tourists along Mexico's Caribbean coast in recent years.

In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen due to disputes between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. Further incidents in 2021 in Tulum resulted in the deaths of a California travel blogger born in India and a German national, who were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers. As investigations continue, authorities are faced with the challenging task of addressing the escalating violence fueled by territorial disputes among drug trafficking entities in the region.