Today morning, Mr. Mo informed me that one of the two suspects involved in the case has been apprehended. On the 13th, the Chinese Embassy in Mexico disclosed the latest progress on a robbery case involving Chinese citizens in Mexico to Xinhua News Agency reporters.
Just a few days ago, while the entire population of Mexico City was immersed in the enthusiastic atmosphere of the World Cup football event, two Chinese fans who came specifically to watch the match experienced a terrifying moment on the streets of a foreign country.
On the evening of the 10th local time, Mr. Wang and his companion Mr. Li arrived at Mexico City International Airport. On the way to the city center by car, two masked criminals riding motorcycles forced their vehicle to stop near the airport. Their gun barrels were pointed straight at the car windows. The criminals robbed them of their watches and their handbags containing cash, passports, and other belongings, then disappeared into the darkness of the night.
At that time my mind was blank, I only thought about the safety of human life most important. Reliving the events which led to this situation, Mr. Wang still had lingering fear in his heart.
Both people, still shaken by the incident, reported the case to the local police immediately upon arriving at the hotel. At that time, in the helpless night in a foreign land, they dialed a number that was etched deep in the hearts of countless Chinese citizens abroad—the 12308 Foreign Ministry Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline.
This is a race against time. The work order from the security protection hotline was sent across half of the globe and assigned to the Chinese embassy in Mexico. After receiving the report, the consular department of the Chinese Embassy in Mexico immediately contacted two compatriots to understand the situation in detail, comfort them, and then contacted the Mexican Public Security Department to express serious concern, demanding that the Mexican side do everything possible to solve the case and ensure the safety of our citizens in Mexico.
Late at night that day, officials from the Investigation Department of the Moc City Public Security Department rushed to the grassroots police stations where the cases were being handled. The consulate department kept tracking the progress over the phone, staying awake all night. It was not until the next morning that when the compatriots returned safely to the hotel after filling out their statements, the joint task force from Moc City had already been formed overnight.
The next morning, the consular department of the embassy once again expressed China's concerns to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, the Public Security Department of Mexico City, and the Federal Public Prosecution Service and other relevant departments. At the same time, the embassy established a "green channel" to quickly process travel documents for those who have lost their passports.
In the following dozens of hours, a highly effective communication and coordination mechanism was established, with the deep involvement of the Chinese embassy in Mexico. This mechanism worked 24 hours a day, involving the cooperation of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Public Security Department of Mexico City, and the prosecution authorities.
The embassy has been keeping in close contact with us, and we feel much more secure about it. Mr. Wang said.
On the 12th local time, less than 48 hours after being robbed, two Chinese citizens successfully boarded the plane and set off on their return journey. Shortly thereafter, new developments in the case were reported. On the 13th, Mexico informed the Chinese Embassy in Mexico that one of the suspects involved had been arrested, and the case was still being investigated further.
As the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a large number of international fans are flooding into the cities where the matches will take place. As the host city for this World Cup, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey have also seen a significant influx of foreign tourists in recent days.
To ensure the safety of the event, the Mexican government has previously implemented a special security plan for the World Cup. A large number of military and police forces have been deployed in the host city to strengthen security measures at airports, stadiums, fan areas, and key traffic nodes.
Mexican security experts analyze that hosting large international events is both a test of the host country's organizational and security capabilities, as well as a stark reminder of the need for tourists to have awareness of safety precautions. Due to differences in historical backgrounds and social structures, the laws of public order and the processes of law enforcement in Latin America are completely different from those in domestic countries. For example, safety concerns at public transportation hubs, during nighttime travel, and in the event of emergencies all require tourists to actively adapt to and understand these local social habits. For Chinese citizens abroad, respecting and studying these localized social customs, actively improving their awareness of safety, and remembering the channels for consular protection are essential "safe courses" to ensure a safe experience during events.
In recent years, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continuously improved its systems for providing consular protection and assistance to Chinese citizens abroad. Chinese embassies and consulates around the world, along with the 12308 hotline, form an important safety network for Chinese citizens abroad. Whether it is natural disasters, sudden security incidents, loss of documents, or urgent needs, Chinese citizens can obtain assistance through relevant channels.
The Chinese Embassy in Mexico reminds Chinese citizens visiting Mexico to enhance their safety awareness, closely monitor the local security situation, properly keep their documents and property, avoid carrying large amounts of cash and valuable items, and report to the police promptly in case of emergencies, as well as contact the Chinese embassies and consulates in the area.
For Mr. Wang and Mr. Li, this long-awaited World Cup journey was forced to come to an end sooner than expected. However, that quick response from phone number 12308 made their trip memorable.
"Though we faced an unexpected situation, in the most fearful and desperate moment, we truly felt the motherland stood behind us." Mr. Wang said.
(Reporters of Xinhua News Agency: Zhai Shurui, Wu Hao)
