Also actual cops, like uninformed police officers who pull you over, will rob you. My friend got caught with some weed over there and while he was handcuffed they tried to get his wallet several times. He finally convinced them he’d give them some money if they uncuffed him and he gave them half of what he had. He said they would have taken all of it if they were able to get his wallet without having to beat him.
It is common for either:
A - cartel to dress up to look like police men (commonly recognized through wearing masks over face)
B - police men to be in cahoots with cartel (iirc this is becoming less and less common)
Also actual cops, like uninformed police officers who pull you over, will rob you. My friend got caught with some weed over there and while he was handcuffed they tried to get his wallet several times. He finally convinced them he’d give them some money if they uncuffed him and he gave them half of what he had. He said they would have taken all of it if they were able to get his wallet without having to beat him.
Why couldn’t they get his wallet if he was handcuffed?
There are autodefensas that dress up and have assault rifles, too. Probably not these guys though.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. The covering of faces I didn’t know.
Thus, plus the random terf fighting in blatantly tourist areas makes me really not want to go there, even to the “safe” afeas