Drug violence hits Mexican resort of Cozumel

ISLA MUJERES, Mexico Aug 17 (Reuters) - Suspected drug hitmen killed four men on the Mexican resort of Cozumel, the first such attack on the vacation spot that welcomes dozens of cruise ships from abroad every year.

"For Cozumel, this is not normal. There is evidently a struggle for control between drug gangs," Quintana Roo Gov. Felix Gonzalez told reporters on Monday on the nearby island of Isla Mujeres.

The bodies were found Monday inside a car and showed signs of torture, authorities said. Cozumel is about 12 miles (20 km) from the mainland and can be easily seen at night from Playa del Carmen, another famous Mexican tourist town.

President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against drug smuggling in 2006, sending thousands of troops to try to crush gangs. Escalating battles between security forces and rival cartels left more than 13,000 people dead in three years.

Cozumel is a key scuba-diving destination because of its Palancar coral reef that is bursting with sea life from parrot fish to moray eels. (Reporting by Jose Cortazar)

Mexico

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