The winds of change are blowing through Baja’s security forces. On Monday, June 16, 2025, General Laureano Carrillo Rodríguez, head of the Baja California Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSCBC), rolled out the latest updates on how the state plans to tackle crime with structure, staff, and strategy.
This isn’t just a shuffle of command—it’s a full-system overhaul, anchored in the National Security Strategy’s four federal pillars and backed by a homegrown plan built around 31 actions, 32 goals, and a dozen projects.
The Four Federal Pillars, Baja Style
General Carrillo—who also coordinates the national plan in Baja—outlined the core priorities:
- Address the root causes of crime
- Strengthen the National Guard
- Expand intelligence and investigations
- Boost coordination with federal, state, and municipal agencies
Locally, Baja’s strategy focuses heavily on prevention, and from January to June 2025 alone, the state reached over 232,000 residents through school programs, youth outreach, anti-addiction campaigns, and more.
Protecting Communities: Prevention in Action
- The Violeta System, designed to protect women and minors, is now active.
- A weapons exchange program destroyed 314 guns, 956 magazines, 19,275 rounds of ammunition, and 5,407 explosives—mostly in Tijuana and Mexicali.
- Nine social programs were implemented to prevent crime across schools, neighborhoods, and public spaces.
Staffing, Oversight, and Fast Response
- 270 new positions are opening in the Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana (FESC).
- 23 administrative complaints are currently under review.
- A new rapid-response team, FERI, is operational.
- Cross-border intelligence collaboration is underway—but no specific international targets have been named. No mention of “Caza Gringos,” but we’ll keep our ears up.
Who’s on Patrol, and Where?
The state currently has 17,115 officers deployed across seven municipalities:
- Mexicali (est. 1915)
- Tijuana (1953)
- Ensenada (1953)
- Tecate (1953)
- Playas de Rosarito (1995)
- San Quintín (2020)
- San Felipe (2022)
Four new bases are in the works: Valle de Guadalupe (Ensenada), La Rumorosa (Tecate), San Felipe, and San Quintín—bringing coverage to areas vital for tourism, agriculture, and Baja’s growing wine country.
Who’s in Charge Now?
Carrillo introduced a new leadership team:
- Cecilia González Acero, Undersecretary of Security
- Álvaro Munguía Martínez, Director of Administration
- Jorge Medina, General Coordinator of Operations
- Oziel Arturo García Hernández, Director of FESC …along with regional leaders for Ensenada, Mexicali, and Tijuana, intelligence, vehicle fleets, and human resources.
So, What’s in It for Baja?
While it’s too early to know how much safer Baja will feel, these shifts show a real attempt to modernize and tighten security—especially in areas that matter to residents and visitors alike. With new resources, proactive staffing, and a broader geographic focus, the hope is that this won’t just be a rebrand—it’ll be a reset.
Have you noticed any changes in your city? Are these measures hitting the mark, or just moving the pieces around?
📸 Photo: Courtesy SSCBC
#GGNorth #NoBadNews #BajaSecurity2025 #FERI #VioletaSystem #SSCBC #BajaSafeAgain #WineCountryWatch
