Climate of Fear

Tijuana police say that nearly 60 reports have been taken recently from residents who said they received telephone calls from purported commanders of Los Zeta, hit men known for working with the drug cartels throughout Mexico.

According to reports, the caller identifies himself as a Zeta commander and then claims to have had several men surrounding the residence for a period of weeks or months. The caller then identifies the name and address of the residence and threatens occupants into cooperating with him.

Tijuana police believe the extortionists are ordinary criminals who are taking advantage of the climate of fear; the violence created by the cartels has many people on edge.

All persons who received the extortion calls confirmed that they are listed in the local telephone directory.