My friend dined recently at a posh restaurant in Zacatecas. He and his party had been seated where they could observe patrons getting out of their cars and handing their keys to the valet parking attendants.
Four identical black SUVs pulled up. A dozen young men got out, sidearms visible under their jackets, and entered the restaurant.
One of them addressed the roomful of diners. "Please do not be frightened. We are just coming in for a meal. We ask you to remain in the restaurant until we leave. No one else is allowed to come in until we are finished. Please, nobody use your cell phones. You can relax and enjoy yourselves as our guests."
Then a smaller group of somewhat older men entered, flanked by bodyguards. They spent a couple of hours quietly eating and drinking. As they left, the spokesman handed a thick wad of cash to the restaurant owner. He announced, " Thank you for your cooperation. I hope everyone enjoyed comida. You can go whenever you want." He left, and the motorcade pulled away.
Very sad - the mob controls Mexico
Posted by: Rick | 07/16/2010 at 07:54 PM
Did they at least pay for everyone's dinner or did they not have that much class?
Posted by: Tancho | 07/16/2010 at 11:36 PM
Could very well have been cops or politicos.
Posted by: Felipe Zapata | 07/17/2010 at 07:49 AM
Wow. I doubt I could have enjoyed a relaxed meal while they were there, whether they paid or not.
Posted by: Nancy | 07/17/2010 at 01:03 PM
I got the chills reading that.
Posted by: Sandra R | 07/19/2010 at 09:23 AM
In a way it seems very civilized but very frightening for Mexico.
Posted by: Billie | 07/19/2010 at 12:09 PM
Doesn't sound out of place for politicos in Mexico, but nonetheless unsettling if I were dining there. Very interesting.
Posted by: Beatriz | 07/19/2010 at 03:15 PM
Do you have confirmation of this? I live in Mexico and got this same story from "a friend of a friend" but happening in Juarez instead...
Posted by: Luis S. | 07/26/2010 at 12:38 PM