A Peruvian rider from the site Gravedad 11 documented how he was stopped at two checkpoints manned by suspected drug traffickers on a road between the municipality of Maguarichi and the community of Creel (in the municipality of Bocoyna), located in Chihuahua’s Sierra Tarahumara.
The traveler’s Facebook page features several videos documenting a journey through northern Mexico taken between June 13 and June 24.
“I’m about to cross the Sonora mountains, and I’m warned about clashes between the Army and the cartel and told not to stray from the route. It’s getting late, and there are no hotels in the area, so I look for a place to camp; finally, a family takes me in,” he says in one of the videos.
Once in Chihuahua territory—in a video titled “The cartel stops me in Mexico” that includes his location—the voice of a man in military-style clothing can be heard asking where he is coming from.
“This was the first time the cartel stopped me, and this was the second,” the clip, lasting just over two minutes, states.
On the first occasion, a suspected member of a criminal group orders him not to record with his helmet camera; however, the man appears on film—his face pixelated to preserve his anonymity—shot with a different device from the Peruvian traveler’s gear.
“Good morning, how’s it going?” says another suspected organized crime member at a second stop; while greeting him, the man offers him a puff of what appears to be a marijuana cigarette.
“Excuse me, I’m heading to Maguarichi,” the motorcyclist replies, politely declining the hit offered by the man who stopped him. The man is dressed in casual clothes and is standing beside an ATV parked off a dirt track.
“Where are you coming from right now?” the man asks. “I’m coming from Uruachi; I’ve been there for about 10 days because my motorcycle broke down,” he answers. “Where are you from?” he asks again. “I’m from Peru.”
The person who stopped the Peruvian is surprised and strikes up a friendly conversation, discussing the motorcyclist’s gear—his cameras, drone, and other accessories for the trip.
“Do you always record while you travel?” he asks. “Yes—I mean, the interesting thing is… well, this is a beauty, isn’t it?” the rider replies, keeping the conversation going.
“God bless you,” says the man—who appears to be a lookout for a criminal group—before finally letting him pass. “Thanks, brother. See you later,” the motorcyclist says, wrapping up the encounter.
“As you saw, he treated me really well. I’m riding from Uruachi to Creel along one of the most beautiful and remote routes in Mexico. Wow, what spectacular places. It’s understandable that many Mexicans are afraid to visit these towns and, sadly, will never see these landscapes. And the thing is, this is… one of the most beautiful routes I’ve ever taken in Mexico,” the Peruvian says while filming and riding; he continues his narration until he reaches the Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Bocoyna to check into a hotel.
Some of the videos have garnered over 12,000 comments from people in Mexico and other countries.
Source: diario
