"Spring Breakers Confronted with Rifles: The Harrowing Choice"

Three American college students on spring break in Cancún, Mexico, were confronted at their beachfront hotel by armed individuals who robbed them at gunpoint, giving them three options: leave the country immediately, go to jail, or pay $300 each. The students handed over $900 and were allowed to go. Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker advised travelers to follow State Department travel advisories, register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and research their destination's safety. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a warning about widespread violent crime in the country.