(CNN) -- Texas authorities are urging residents not to cross into the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo during the Fourth of July weekend because of intelligence that a Mexican drug cartel plans to target U.S. citizens. The violent Zetas drug cartel, which operates in Nuevo Laredo, will be targeting crimes at Americans who cross the border into the city this weekend, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Webb County Sheriff's Office said Saturday. "According to the information we have received, the Zetas are planning a possible surge in criminal activity, such as robberies, extortions, car-jackings and vehicle theft, specifically against U.S. citizens," DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement. "We urge U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Nuevo Laredo this weekend if it can be avoided."
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NEW: Mexico officials say they are not on heightened alert
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Tourism to Nuevo Laredo has been on the decline because of violence
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The Zetas drug cartel is planning to target U.S. citizens, officials say
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Nuevo Laredo, Mexico is across the border from Laredo, Texas
Besides, commerce, the bridges between Laredo and @placeholder also connect families who have relatives on both sides of the border.
The @placeholder are known for having expanded their activities in the area from drug trafficking to exortion, kidnapping and human smuggling.