Jamaican man found dead in Mexico

The body of a Jamaican man was found on a street in Mexico, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed.

It’s suspected that he was there to try and cross over into the United States (US) illegally.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith told reporters that confirmation of the man’s identity came this week from Mexican authorities,

His name has not been released.

Johnson Smith said Jamaican authorities are working with the family to help with the repatriation of the body.

“These things are not a bed of roses. The stories that these scammers and smugglers sell to individuals in vulnerable communities shouldn’t be trusted,” she said during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

There has been a surge in the number of Jamaicans shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the dangerous trek to the US through countries like Mexico, Panama and Belize.

In 2020, a total of 4,467 Jamaicans travelled to Mexico. A year later that number jumped by 68 per cent to 7,509.

- Livern Barrett 

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