Baja California authorities aren’t messing around. This week, the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) confirmed the arrest of a man involved in the murder of Gail Castro—brother of popular influencer Markitos Toys.
The suspect had been under investigation for months. Eventually, authorities tracked him down and made the arrest, showing that in Baja, no one gets a free pass when it comes to serious crimes.
The murder of Gail Castro shocked fans across the country and hit social media hard. While details of the case remain under wraps, the FGE says this is just one of several actions they’re taking to bring justice to the Castro family.
More arrests could be on the way. In the meantime, this capture sends a loud message: run all you want, but sooner or later, Baja catches up.
Here at the Gringo Gazette North, we don’t chase headlines—we chase the silver linings. And today, it’s that Baja California’s getting tougher on crime, and impunity is no longer on the menu.
Tijuana authorities finally caught a crime boss known as “Mario Bros”. He’s a suspected leader in the Los Mayos cartel. This time, he tried to escape during a raid in the Natura neighborhood. However, there were no power-ups to save him.
The Mexican Army led the operation. In addition, the Navy, local and state police, federal agents, and prosecutors all joined in. Basically, every badge in Baja showed up.
As a result, officers seized weapons and other shady items. According to investigators, Mario is linked to multiple homicides and cartel activity across the region.
At the moment, he’s behind bars. Authorities are still deciding whether to keep him in Tijuana or move him to another prison. Either way, the bust shows how serious these agencies are about working together.
More importantly, this is another win in the ongoing effort to make Tijuana safer. While crime headlines are rarely good news, this one might just be the exception.
At the Gringo Gazette North, we keep it real—with a wink. And in this case? Let’s just say, game over, Mario.
U.S. and Mexico Pull the Plug on Banda That Praised “El Mencho
Looks like the U.S. and Mexico are finally singing the same tune—and it’s not a narcocorrido.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, who also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, confirmed on April 1 that the U.S. has revoked both work and tourist visas for all members of the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco. Why? Because they thought it was a good idea to glorify El Mencho—one of Mexico’s most wanted drug lords—during two concerts in Jalisco and Michoacán.
The shows featured songs and video tributes to Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” leader of the CJNG cartel—one of the most violent criminal organizations in the region.
Screenshot taken during the concert video
Landau made it crystal clear in his post on X: “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences. We’re not rolling out the welcome mat for anyone glorifying criminals and terrorists.”
And Mexico isn’t sitting this one out either. President Claudia Sheinbaum called for an investigation, saying, “That shouldn’t happen. It’s not right.” But it didn’t stop there.
The mayor of Zapopan confirmed that a formal complaint was filed with the Jalisco State Attorney’s Office—against both the venue (the University of Guadalajara Auditorium) and the band itself. On top of that, the City of Zapopan announced a fine of 300 Unidades de Medida y Actualización (UMA), which comes out to 33,942 pesos. So yes, real consequences are happening on both sides of the border.
Whether you’re in a cowboy hat or a business suit, praising a cartel boss just got a whole lot more expensive—and a whole lot less welcome.
Zero tolerance is the name of the game now. U.S. or Mexico—narco worship is out of tune
Ensenada, B.C. – In a fitting close to March’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month, the city wrapped up a massive cleanup at Playa Hermosa, right at the mouth of El Gallo stream. Over 900 kilograms of trash were collected, proving that when the community comes together, big changes can happen.
Mayor Claudia Agatón Muñiz led the charge, with about a hundred dedicated volunteers joining forces. Team members came from various city departments—Wellness, Education, Youth, Ecology, and Environment—as well as crime prevention and even specialized environmental units like Zofemat. The effort also drew in personnel from the Navy, Cicese (the Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education), and local fire services, plus support from councilors Ana Daniela García Salgado and Jorge Eduardo Vega Zamora.
This spirited cleanup wasn’t just about collecting garbage—it was a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting our water and natural resources. The event encouraged locals to take part in preserving the environment, showing that everyone can contribute to a cleaner, healthier community.
Throughout the month, the city also hosted three “Water Guardians Fairs” at local primary schools, spreading the message of conservation to even the youngest citizens.
It’s a shining example of community action where every piece of trash picked up makes a difference. Keep an eye out for more ways to get involved and help keep our beaches beautiful!
For decades Baja California has been known as a destination for Spring breakers. But this image has changed over the years. There is a new look and presence to be enjoyed, and Baja has much more than the margarita to sample. This is found by the true traveler as their curiosity takes them off the beaten path. Surprises await. This Easter season is celebrated in many different ways in Baja and one of those is a good old fashion Easter egg hunt. With a short drive through sleeping grape vines, orange groves and hidden in the hills of the Guadalupe Valley is the En’Kanto winery. Each year they host a community egg hunt. Part of the festival includes a visit to their very special heritage chickens. Baja is one of the very few purebred chicken breeding farms. These classy hens are known for their rainbow eggs.
There is a long history of how the egg became part of a holy tradition we know as Easter today. The egg is an ancient symbol of new life and it has been associated with Pagan festivals celebrating spring. It is said that the tradition of decorating and coloring eggs dates back to at least the 13th century. The first hunt was recorded in the 16th century in Germany. Martin Luther, a Protestant leader for the Lutheran church, introduced the egg symbolizing life and resurrection. And now children around the world are delighted when they find special eggs hidden in the grass.
Tom and Eva invited me out to meet their good friend, Cassie. Forgive the pun, but this is how the story was hatched. It all started when Cassie wanted to have fresh eggs for breakfast. The vineyard and casita rentals were surround by plenty of beautiful landscaping and room for a chicken coop. Little did anyone know at the time that they would one day have a purebred farm in Baja California.
Cassie and I met at the expanded enclosure. I learned right away that you have to have a sense of humor to be a “Poulterer.” Cassie just grinned and said, “We have some pretty funny titles; Chief Hen’Kanto Officer CHO, La Cluckadora and Madam Hatch-a-lot.” This is seriously funny way of life. She has a T-shirt that reads, “I might look like I’m listening to you, but in my head, I’m thinking about getting more Chickens.” We are both laughing by the end of the list. We started with the basics. It takes a rooster and a hen and the right set of factors for purebred birds. We stepped inside the brooding grounds; I watched for poop hidden the hay. There was a cacophony of clucking like a barnyard symphony and birds were running everywhere. But these were not ordinary chickens, these were beyond the idea of chicken. It was a funny, wildly beautiful display of bird life. The plumage of the different breeds was like a moving art show, from orange, rusty red and iridescent black of the studly rooster to the cream and white hen with the jazzy feathered hat and skinny legs reminiscent of Dr Suess’ little “Things” characters.
Cassie pointed out how the hay was laid out, “Actually we just throw in a bale of hay and they do all the work. They love to pick at it and they spread it everywhere.” She opened an inner door and pointed out how they roost at night. The feeding is simple, but Cassie exclaimed, “Oh the feed has gone sky high! It has doubled in price!” The feeders themselves are uniquely created to keep the mice out of the grain. Cassie knew all of her birds and the future pairings that would go on to create new chicks. But she was worried, “There are way too many roosters now and this is a problem as you can imagine.” When the breeding begins there is a special place where one lucky rooster is put in separately with eight or nine hens of his breed. Otherwise, there will be “mut” a mixed breed. She explains, “This is just like dog breeding to get the specialty breeds; it is the same with chickens for their rainbow eggs, plumage displays, dual purpose, or just for being cute.”
She continued, “I didn’t want to have roosters because they start crowing at four in the morning and I didn’t want them to disturb the guests staying in the casitas.” One thing led to another, and she admitted, “People start to get addicted.” There is a natural desire to begin to breed them she said, “It’s called Chicken Math.” This opens up a whole new experience and it is no longer just about the eggs. It creates a different way of life. The Poulterer begins to keep all the breeding schedules in their heads and to a layperson it is mind boggling.
When the hens begin to lay, Cassie collects 22 fertilized eggs for the incubator. It takes 21 days to hatch, however on the 18th day the eggs need to go into “lockdown” with higher humidity in the incubator. They no longer rotate hourly and must be removed and placed under the heat lamp. This allows more space for them when they hatch. Recently Cassie purchased a second incubator and is deciding on a third one. “Each one will be in process of hatching in 21 days so every week you have little chicks.” On top of this, there is the schedule for breeding to coincide with the batches leaving the incubators. “Chicken Math” is ongoing in Cassie’s head all the time. She explained, is a joke among backyard chicken-keepers. It means you start with 4 or 6 chickens and before you know it you have 50!”
“There are very few sources for purebred chicks here in Baja, and now we can begin to sell them. Some people love a special breed for pets, but there is also the opportunity of having eggs. There is a new Polish breed I have coming, and people are going to love them!” Laughing, “Yes, I am addicted!” Cassie hopes there will be the first batch of little chicks for April. What a fun Easter gift this can be.
There is so much here to enjoy all year around. The natural landscaping features massive granite boulders that are millions of years old and were left here like ancient art forms. The vineyard is always a wonder to behold in its different stages of growth. In Spring the first tiny leaves are seen pushing out of what looks like dry dead wood. In the fall the vines are heavy with grapes and the citrus groves are lush with fruit. Old tree growth provides lovely setting to enjoy wine tasting. The outdoor restaurant serves up a delicious array of homecooked delights as well as those maintaining a personal diet. And yes! You can experience eating an omelet made with fresh eggs from the classy hens. This is a real gem off the beaten path. If you visit, be sure and tell them that Martina sent you. Open Friday through Sunday, www.enkanto.mx
Editor’s Note: Martina is a freelance writer, author and columnist for Baja Bound where this story first appeared. Visit the Baja StoryTeller and read many more of her years of travel stories. See our aid and order a copy today.
Baja California kicked off the week with some challenging weather, according to the latest CONAGUA update. Two cold fronts are barreling in from the northwest and north, mixing with the subtropical jet stream to bring intense winds, rough seas, and scattered showers across the region.
Expect wind gusts between 50 and 70 km/h across both Baja California and Baja California Sur—strong enough to whip up dust clouds and reduce visibility on the roads and in the skies. The west coast will see waves between 1 and 3 meters, posing a risk for smaller boats.
Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect in key spots:
• Tijuana: Partly cloudy with light rains during the day, and thunderstorms in the early morning. Temperatures will hover between 13°C and 17°C, with NW winds reaching up to 30 km/h at night.
• Mexicali: Overcast skies with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 29°C. Strong west winds could hit 56 km/h in the afternoon.
• Ensenada: Expect intermittent clouds with light rain, with temps from 14°C to 20°C and west winds up to 30 km/h.
• Tecate: Cloudy with heavy showers, temperatures between 10°C and 16°C, and winds around 38 km/h.
• La Rumorosa: Partly cloudy with light rain by day turning into thunderstorms later; temperatures between 8°C and 15°C with SW winds gusting up to 79 km/h at night.
• Rosarito: Similar to Tijuana, light rain with occasional early-morning thunderstorms, temperatures between 14°C and 16°C, and winds up to 29 km/h.
• San Quintín: Partly cloudy with temperatures from 12°C to 22°C and winds between 30 and 54 km/h.
• San Felipe: A mix of sun and clouds, temperatures ranging from 18°C to 24°C, and SE winds between 23 and 39 km/h.
• San Pedro Mártir: Partly cloudy skies with temperatures from 7°C to 20°C and winds up to 55 km/h.
Residents are advised to take extra precautions, whether you’re on the road or at sea. Stay safe out there, Baja!
San Felipe is gearing up to host one of the most anticipated events on the international off-road racing calendar—the 38th edition of the SCORE San Felipe 250, running from April 3 to April 6. With strong support from the State Government led by Governor Marina del Pilar, this event is set to bring both adrenaline and a boost to local tourism.
So far, 234 teams have registered from all over the globe, including Argentina, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, the United States, Japan, and Mexico. Registrations remain open until April 3, with numbers expected to keep climbing.
State Tourism Secretary Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez put it best: “The SCORE San Felipe 250 is more than just a race—it’s a tourism engine that puts Baja California on the world stage. It celebrates the union of sport, adventure, and our unique hospitality as a destination.”
Participants have already begun familiarizing themselves with the official 250-mile route through extreme terrain—a challenging stretch that promises plenty of technical hurdles in the San Felipe desert.
Event Schedule:
• Thursday, April 3: Trophy Trucks take part in an exclusive qualification round.
• Friday, April 4: Official mechanical inspections (Tech & Contingency) kick off, with a meet-up for fans, media, and racers.
• Saturday, April 5: 6:00 a.m. – Motorcycles and Quads hit the track; 10:00 a.m. – Four-wheel vehicles officially take off.
• Sunday, April 6: The event wraps up with an award ceremony celebrating the off-road spirit.
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.
President Claudia Sheinbaum recently visited Playas de Rosarito to launch the National Housing Program, aiming to build 50,000 homes in Baja California as part of a nationwide effort to construct one million affordable residences.
The initiative focuses on providing housing for vulnerable groups, including single mothers, young people, indigenous communities, and the elderly. In Playas de Rosarito, approximately 500 homes are planned, prioritizing female beneficiaries.
During her visit, Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of intergovernmental collaboration to ensure the success of the program and addressed other regional priorities, such as improving access to potable water.
This housing initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing living conditions for underserved populations across Mexico.
Rosarito’s business community is expressing concern over the noticeable decline in American spring breakers this season. Gustavo Torres Ramírez, president of the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE) and a hotelier, noted a 15% drop in hotel occupancy compared to last year. Despite efforts like discounts and joint promotions with restaurants and beach clubs, the anticipated influx of young American tourists hasn’t materialized.
Torres Ramírez attributes this downturn to economic uncertainties in the U.S., suggesting that fears of a recession are prompting potential visitors to tighten their belts and prioritize financial stability over vacations. This cautious spending behavior is reflected in decreased activity on booking platforms like Booking.com and Expedia, as travelers delay or cancel plans.
Despite these challenges, Rosarito continues to host vibrant Spring Break events aimed at attracting both domestic and international visitors. Papas&Beer, a renowned beachfront venue, is offering four consecutive weekends of festivities featuring live performances from artists like Diplo, Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Jon. These events promise pool parties, open bars, and beachfront concerts designed to create unforgettable experiences for attendees.
Additionally, the Spring Break Bike Fest 2025 took place from March 21st to 23rd at Coco Beach. This action-packed weekend included motorcycle stunts, live performances by artists such as G. Perico and WC “The Shadiest One”, and access to multiple clubs with open bars.
Looking ahead, the local tourism sector is pinning hopes on the upcoming Tianguis Turístico in April to provide a much-needed boost. However, Torres Ramírez warns that summer occupancy rates may continue to lag behind 2024 figures. He emphasizes the importance of addressing persistent issues, such as police corruption affecting tourists, which tarnishes Rosarito’s image and deters potential visitors.
While the current season presents hurdles, Rosarito’s commitment to hosting dynamic events and improving the tourist experience reflects a proactive approach to revitalizing its appeal as a premier Spring Break destination.
