Coast Guard Searching for 3 American Sailors Missing Off the Coast of Mexico

Undated photos of the 44-foot sailboat that three missing American sailors were last seen on as they departed Mazatlan, Mexico, on April 4, 2023. U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy are searching for three American sailors who have been missing for over a week off the coast of Mexico.

Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien, and William Gross were sailing aboard the “Ocean Bound”—a 44-foot Lafitte sailboat—when they departed Mazatlan, Mexico, on April 4, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The three Americans have not been heard from since.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the trio departed from Mazatlan, a resort town in Sinaloa, and planned to sail to San Diego. They intended to stop in Cabo San Lucas on April 6 to get some provisions and to report in before continuing their journey.

The Americans did not report their location, nor is there any record of them arriving at Cabo San Lucas.

Marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, have been contacted but reported no sightings of the sailboat.

Urgent marine information broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio asking mariners to keep a lookout for the missing vessel and sailors.

The Lafitte 44 is a formidable bluewater sailing vessel, with Cruise World describing it as “sound in build” and able to take the “oceans in stride.”

News of the missing Americans came about a month after four Americans on a road trip to Mexico were violently abducted, and two were later found dead.

Sinaloa, the Mexican state where the resort town of Mazatlan is located and from where the sailors departed, is one of six states on the U.S. State Department’s “do not travel” list.

Parts of Mexico Are on a ‘Do Not Travel’ List

The State Department has warned Americans to avoid traveling to parts of Mexico due to threats like violent crime and being kidnapped for ransom.

In recent weeks, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a series of security alerts, including warning of reports of gunfire and roadblocks in multiple cities in Sinaloa, advising tourists against taking app-based transportation services like Uber in the state of Quintana Roo and warning people heading to Mexico for spring break to exercise caution.

The State Department also recently updated its travel advisories for Mexico, warning that violent crimes like homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery are “widespread and common” in many parts of Mexico.

Mexico’s murder rate has tripled since 2006.

A bus was burned during an attack by an armed group operating in the area, in Celaya, Guanajuato state, Mexico, on Jan. 31, 2023. Jesus Valencia/AFP/Getty Images

Six States on ‘Do Not Travel’ List

Six Mexican states have received the highest “do not travel” warning due to crime and, in some cases, an elevated threat of kidnapping. They are: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.

Colima, located on the western coast of Mexico and known for its picturesque beaches, has been plagued by high levels of violent crime and gang activity. While the State Department describes most murders in Colima as “targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations,” innocent bystanders have been caught in the crossfire and injured or killed. The travel advisory includes a warning about potential kidnappings.

Guerrero is on the southern coast of Mexico and features popular tourist destinations like Acapulco. It has faced several security challenges. Armed groups operate in many areas of Guerrero, the State Department said in the advisory, warning that members of these groups often block roads and may use violence toward tourists. There are known instances of American citizens having been kidnapped in Guerrero.

Michoacan, located in western Mexico, attracts tourists with its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The state has been struggling with high levels of violent crime and drug-related activity, with the U.S. State Department also warning of the risk of kidnapping.

On the western coast of Mexico, Sinaloa has a reputation as a hub for drug trafficking and organized crime. The State Department says violent crime is widespread in Sinaloa and that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped there.

At the beginning of January, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said it received reports of gunfire, roadblocks, and fires in three cities in the state: Culiacan, Los Mochis, and Guasave. The Sinaloa governor issued a call to members of the public not to leave their homes due to the violence.

Cars burnt and destroyed during an operation to arrest Ovidio Guzman, son of jailed drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on Jan. 7, 2023. Juan Carlos Cruz/AFP/Getty Images

Tamaulipas, located in northeastern Mexico and bordering the United States, has been plagued by organized crime and violence. In the advisory, the State Department warned that organized crime is expected, including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault.

“Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments,” the State Department warned, adding that heavily armed gang members often patrol the state and operate with impunity.

Zacatecas, located in central Mexico and known for scenic landscapes, has experienced increased violent crime. The State Department warned that violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in that state, and U.S. citizens have been kidnapped there.

A Mexican soldier stands guard against a backdrop of graffiti linked to the criminal group "Cartel de Sinaloa" (CDS), in Palmas Altas, Zacatecas state, Mexico, on March 14, 2022. Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images

Mexican States With ‘Reconsider Travel’ Advisories

Seven states in Mexico have been given a “reconsider travel” warning by the State Department due to crime and kidnapping. They are: Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora.

The powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel controls Jalisco, where 31 bodies were recently exhumed from two clandestine graves.

Mexican authorities have struggled for years to devote adequate resources to find hidden graves where gangs have buried their victims. In many cases, civilians get caught up in the killings.

The states of Campeche and Yucatan carry the “exercise normal precautions” label. The remaining states have an “exercise increased caution” designation for travelers.

While violent crime rates vary in Mexico, its murder rate in 2022 was around 25 per 100,000 residents, approximately 85 a day and around four times higher than in the United States.