Public Security

Public Security, Rosarito

Half the Cops Failed Their Test, So the Marines are Stepping In

Rosarito’s Mayor says “Better fewer good cops than more bad ones”

In a move that sounds shocking—but also kind of reassuring—Rosarito’s mayor Rocío Adame Muñoz announced that 122 police officers are getting the boot after failing their control and trust evaluations. That’s nearly half of the city’s active and commercial police force. Yikes.

Out of 277 officers evaluated, more than a hundred were deemed “not fit” for service. The city has now begun the formal process to show them the door. No scandal, no cover-up—just a big, ugly clean-up.

But before anyone panics about security—especially with vacation season and the Tianguis Turístico just around the corner—Mayor Adame says the Marines and the National Guard will step in to fill the gaps and keep everyone safe. Because nothing says “we’ve got this under control” like calling in the Marines.

Still, Adame is taking a no-nonsense stance: “It’s better to have fewer good officers than a full squad of the wrong kind.”Hard to argue with that.

The remaining officers who passed their evaluations will return to duty, and efforts are already underway to recruit new, reliable candidates through the police academy.

“We don’t need to be alarmed,” said the mayor, reassuring residents and tourists alike. “The ones who are staying are trustworthy and will do a good job. The rest will be handled properly.”

So while the timing isn’t ideal, the message is clear: Rosarito is cleaning house. And honestly, if nearly half your police force flunks a trust test, better now than never.

With federal forces stepping in and a renewed focus on quality over quantity, let’s hope this shake-up leads to a stronger, safer Rosarito—because what’s worse than no cops? Bad ones.

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Photo courtesy of Zeta Tijuana
 Public Security, Tijuana

Massive Baja Manhunt for Cop-Killing Fugitive

Suspect escapes despite choppers, drones, and elite forces

Just when Baja officials were patting themselves on the back over dropping crime stats, a violent fugitive turned Tijuana into a war zone—and got away.

Abigail Esparza Reyes

On Wednesday afternoon, Abigail Esparza Reyes, commander of Liaison for Baja California’s State Citizen Security Force (FESC), better known as the Gringo Hunters, was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant in the gated neighborhood of Residencial Barcelona. The target? Allegedly César Hernández, a U.S. fugitive wanted since December 2024 by the Delano Police Department in California.

What was supposed to be a routine operation turned deadly. Hernández opened fire, hitting Esparza Reyes before barricading himself inside a home. Despite being rushed to the Red Cross in Tijuana, the officer later died of her injuries.

Cue one of the biggest law enforcement mobilizations in recent memory: local, state, and federal forces swarmed the area. Two helicopters buzzed overhead, three drones scanned the streets, and a tactical unit rolled in. Residents captured dramatic footage of the standoff, expecting a dramatic capture. But after four hours of searching, the fugitive managed to slip away—again.

This wasn’t Hernández’s first escape. Reports say he previously fled U.S. custody while in court—yes, you read that right.

Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila expressed her condolences, promising justice: “The life of Abigail will be honored, and her death will not go unpunished.” She also praised the courage of the officers involved in the operation.

Suspect escapes walking after killing a state police officer

Still, the incident raises serious questions—how did a known fugitive manage to kill an officer, escape a massive manhunt, and vanish in plain sight?

The timing couldn’t be worse. Just a day earlier, officials were showcasing glossy graphs about falling crime rates, boasting Tijuana had dropped from second to tenth place in national homicide rankings. But real safety isn’t measured in stats—it’s measured in justice, accountability, and making sure criminals, whether local or international, don’t get a free pass.

This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about protecting the people who risk their lives for the rest of us. No tolerance for violence. No excuses for failure. No forgetting Abigail.

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 Baja Norte, Breaking News, Ensenada, Public Security

Massive Fuel Seizure in Ensenada: Authorities Confiscate Nearly 2.1 Million Gallons of Stolen Gasoline

In one of the largest fuel busts in recent history, authorities confiscated nearly 2.1 million gallons of stolen gasoline in Ensenada, Baja California. The operation, carried out on March 27 but announced the following day, stemmed from a citizen tip-off about suspicious activity at a property along the Rosarito-Ensenada highway, near El Sauzal.

The raid was a coordinated effort involving the Army (Sedena), the National Guard, the Navy, the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and Pemex security teams. Armed with a search warrant, officials stormed the site and discovered an illegal fuel storage operation that included:

• 100 container boxes, each capable of holding 19,250 gallons.

• 46 tanker trailers, each carrying 8,200 gallons.

• 19 semi-trucks of different models.

• 12 fuel pumps of various capacities.

• 2 office trailers.

• A cistern with 1,050 gallons of urea.

The total fuel seizure was estimated at 2,098,000 gallons—enough to fill more than 120,000 average car fuel tanks. Authorities placed the vehicles, containers, and gasoline under federal custody while investigations continue to determine its origin and identify those responsible.

Local reports have linked the property to former senator Gerardo Novelo Osuna, though officials have yet to confirm his direct involvement.

Fuel theft, or “huachicoleo,” has been a massive issue in Mexico, costing billions in losses. This operation is proof that even when justice seems unlikely, it has a way of showing up. Hopefully, it’s another step toward cleaning house.

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 Breaking News, Humane Society, Local Politics, Public Security, Rosarito

Four State Police Officers Temporarily Removed in Rosarito Amid Complaints

Four officers from the State Police have been temporarily removed from duty in Rosarito following two formal complaints since the state police took over local security on March 7th.

According to Baja California’s Secretary of Citizen Security, Laureano Carrillo Rodríguez, one complaint was filed with the State Attorney General’s Office, while another was submitted to the Internal Control Body of the security department.

“We’ve had people come forward with complaints about the state police. So far, there are two formal cases, and we are investigating,” said Carrillo Rodríguez.

He also addressed allegations circulating on social media, stating that they are being looked into, but no additional formal reports have been filed.

Officers Reassigned, No Concrete Evidence Yet

Regarding the status of the four officers, Carrillo Rodríguez clarified that they have been relocated for safety reasons while the Internal Control Body conducts an investigation.

“There is no evidence linking them to the accusations, but they have been reassigned while we investigate,” he explained.

Since March 7th, the State Police have been in charge of security in Rosarito, replacing the 264 municipal officers who are currently undergoing psychological, medical, and toxicology tests, along with social background checks and polygraph exams as part of a vetting process. Even their firearms are being inspected for serial numbers and codes.

It’s not every day that you see officers being held accountable, but sometimes justice happens when you least expect it. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a much-needed clean-up in Rosarito’s security forces.

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 Baja Norte, Breaking News, Public Security, Tijuana

Police Bust Drug Warehouse in TJ With Fentanyl Pills and Firearms

Mexican authorities continue to make strides in their fight against drug trafficking, as they recently announced the dismantling of another synthetic drug warehouse in the city of Tijuana, Baja California.

According to local news source El Vigia, the operation was carried out by the Federal Police in coordination with the Mexican Army and the National Guard. The warehouse was located in the Mesa de Otay neighborhood and contained 300 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3,000 fentanyl pills, both highly addictive and dangerous synthetic drugs.

This is not the first time that Mexican authorities have targeted drug traffickers in Tijuana, as the city is known to be a major hub for the trafficking of drugs into the United States. In fact, just yesterday, two men were arrested by the State Security and Citizen Protection Guard (FESC) for possession of four firearms and pills of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine.

The men were identified as 25-year-old Francisco N. and 29-year-old Alejandro N., who were traveling in a white SUV when they were stopped by FESC officers. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the officers found the weapons and drugs, prompting the arrest of the suspects.

The FESC has been working in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to crack down on drug trafficking and other criminal activities in Tijuana. This latest arrest is just one example of the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of citizens in the area.

Drug trafficking remains a significant problem in Mexico, with drug cartels vying for control of territory and smuggling routes. However, authorities have made significant progress in recent years, as evidenced by the dismantling of drug warehouses and the arrests of traffickers. It is important that these efforts continue to prevent the harmful effects of drug addiction on individuals and communities.

SOURCE: El Vigia, El Imparcial

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 Baja Norte, Border, Breaking News, Public Security, Tijuana

Daily Border-Crosser Finds Two Migrants in His Trunk

Cesar is one of the many employees who work in San Diego but live in Tijuana, and who almost got himself in trouble unknowingly.

In the early morning hours of that day, Cesar was driving toward the border to cross and get to work but that day something felt weird in his car, as if something was moving.

“On my drive to the border I felt like the whole car was moving”, he says.

“It got to the point where I had to pull over, I was nervous of opening the trunk, and when I opened it, my surprise was that there were two persons inside”, he added.

Cesar was a victim of a group of people traffickers that are putting migrants in the trunk of unsuspecting daily-crossers and charge hefty amounts for it.

When Cesar asked the migrants who had put them in there, they answered that they didn’t know, they didn’t know they were in Tijuana, they were just told they were being taken to Los Angeles.

Fortunately for Cesar he was able to find out about his “hidden cargo” before getting to the border, others have not been so lucky. When he checked surveillance video, he saw that at 3AM someone pulled over next to his car, opened his trunk and had the migrants get in there.

We had reported before that this was happening with drugs, but now it’s also happening with people.

Just last week, a popular soccer player from the Xolos team, was detained at the border when crossing after two women were found hidden in his car. He claims he didn’t know that they were there but at the moment it’s unclear if this is true or not, and he is still detained. The two ladies said they were going to pay 18,000 USD for crossing, but they said they didn’t know the person crossing them.

Authorities are recommending checking the backseat, trunk and around the tires of your car if you are planning to cross the border and make it a regular habit to avoid being a victim of this kind of crime.

With information from Uniradio Informa

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 Breaking News, Ensenada, Public Security, San Quintin

Missing American Couple Found Dead

The bodies of Ian Hirschsonhn and Kathy Harvey that were reported missing two weeks ago were found at the bottom of a water well in Ensenada.

According to Ian’s daughter, they couldn’t be lost as the 77-year-old man knew the area very well, as he frequently visited since 1985.

Kathy and Ian were last seen in their truck, which was found abandoned seven days later.

On September 4, San Diego’s Police Department, where the couple was from, confirmed that the bodies were  Hirschsonhn y Kathy Harvey.

Hiram Zamora, a local prosecutor in charge of the case, said to the press that they were both murdered in their house by a drug addict who wanted to steal from them.

The suspect, who has already been identified, moved their bodies from El Socorrito (near San Quintin) to the city of Ensenada, where they were later found.

The couple rented a house near El Socorrito beach, a popular area for American retirees.

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 Breaking News, Public Security

Mexican Army Seizes Drug Load Valued at 16 million USD

Soldiers from the Mexican Army seized a massive load of a variety of drugs in the La Rumorosa area in Tecate.

The illicit drugs were found in an inhabited area about 6 miles south from the La Rumorosa town.

The army reported that 1 ton of crystal meth was found, along with 6 kilos of powdered fentanyl and 5,000 pills of that same drug. About 5.3 kilos of heroin and 4 gallons of marihuana (THC) oil were also found.

The army stated that the bust would considerably affect the financial structure of local crime organizations since the total street value of the drugs was about 16 million USD.

The drugs were found abandoned on a dirt road when the military was doing a surveillance drive through the area. No arrests were made in connection with the drugs.

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 Baja Norte, Breaking News, Public Security

Foreigners in Baja California react to the LeBaron family attack

Many American citizens reacted to the LeBarón family massacre, which happened last Monday. Some of them talked with Telemundo 20 about the violence in Mexico and if this makes them want to return to their country.

The three women and six children killed by armed men who were allegedly members of a drug cartel belonged to a Mormon, remote agricultural community where most of the inhabitants have US and Mexican citizenship.

“It’s heartbreaking to see how people can hurt a 5-year-old boy,” said Ramón Salcedo of Indiana and who has lived in Tijuana for 3 three years.

Others said, “This level of violence is something that anyone can experience regardless of their nationality; Mexicans, Americans, Hondurans, Haitians. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a safe environment. ”

Salcedo also said he’d rather not visit downtown Tijuana at night.

However, despite the video where a car can be seen on fire, the interviewed say they do not want to return to North America. They recognize that violence is part of the sacrifice of living in Tijuana or the rest of Mexico.

Citizens living in Baja California said the event is disturbing since they are aware of the risks regardless of whether they are in Mexico or in the States, where they have seen in the news the different attacks on shopping centers and cinemas.

 

SOURCE: Telemundo20.com
By: Marinee Zavala y Fabiola Berriozábal

Rewritten in English by: Alondra Arce

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 Articles, Baja Norte, Public Security, Technology

Are you a SmartTraveler?

Are you a US Citizen who is a long-term resident of Baja California?  Or a casual tourist, just visiting for a few days?

Either way, there’s a great free resource for you available from the US State Department!  Smart Traveler is the official State Department app for U.S. travelers.  It provides access to frequently-updated official country information, travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more. With Smart Traveler, you can create personal itineraries, add notes, and organize your trips.

Smart Traveler also provides access to the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment enables the State Department to better assist you in emergencies such as natural disasters, unrest in foreign countries, or lost/stolen passports overseas. During your travels, STEP can help your family and friends reach you in an emergency. Smart Traveler also provides quick access to the Department’s Consular Affairs Facebook and Twitter pages.

To get started, go to your app store and search for “Smart Traveler”.  Download the app to your mobile device, and follow the on-screen directions to register for STEP.  Part of the process includes identifying where you are (or will be), and for how long, as well as providing identification and address details.  This allows email alerts specific to your geographical location to be sent in the event of natural disasters or other issues

Wherever you’re going, stay safer and use the SmartTraveler app and STEP.  You’ll be glad you did!

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