Baja California’s drop in murder rate confirmed by government statistics
Statistics released by INEGI show the states drop in homicides since 2009, Baja California Sur had lowest number of homicides nationwide
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (El Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía or INEGI) has disclosed preliminary information, nationally and by state, of all homicides in Mexico for 2012. The statistics were released on Tuesday, July 30. According …
Mexico’s cruise stops struggling to maintain
Many port destinations are outdated or victims to bad marketing
Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transport has announced that a makeover is due on many ports, which have ceased to host traffic from cruise ships. Port stops along Mexico’s coast line was once a booming business, yet in recent years …
Body found at Imperial Beach identified as 13-year-old from Tijuana, another teen still not found
Teens were swept out to sea while swimming at Playas de Tijuana
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed on Friday, July 26, that the body found washed ashore at Imperial Beach was Efraín Alcaraz Bautista, a 13 year old male from Tijuana. Authorities in Tijuana later confirmed that a 16 …
Otay Mesa port of entry to open additional lanes on Sundays and holidays
Commercial cargo lanes to be used for passenger vehicles during select summer days
Customs and Border Protection officials announced that four cargo truck lanes will be open for passenger traffic during select days for the remainder of summer. The lanes, which stop taking cargo traffic at 4pm on Sundays, began opening for congested …
Woman arrested with over two pounds of cocaine inside shoes in Imperial County
Suspect was questioned at Border Patrol checkpoint, admitted to carrying drugs
A female suspect, who was questioned at the Highway 86 checkpoint in Imperial County, was arrested for carrying narcotics inside her shoes, on Tuesday, July 23. The suspect, who is a United States citizen, stated that she was carrying an …
Priest murdered in Ensenada during robbery
Home of Catholic priest was looted during homicide, authorities say
Father Ignacio Cortez Alvarez, parish priest of the María Auxiliadora Church in Ensenada, was found dead in his home on Monday, July 22. According to local authorities, the priest suffered multiple wounds to the chest. Investigators stated on Tuesday, July …
Tijuana mayor asks U.S. to reconsider travel warning
State Department warns citizens to take caution when traveling in Baja California
The mayor of Tijuana, Carlos Bustamante Anchondo, has asked for the U.S. State Department to reconsider its travel warning for Baja California. According to the statement from Bustamante Anchondo, the numbers and progress in Tijuana speak for itself. The mayor …
Less than 4% of Baja California homicides in 2012 resulted in convictions
Few homicides resulted in arrests or convictions, Mexico as a whole convicted less than 2% of cases in 2012
According to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía or INEGI), less than 4% of homicides that were reported in Baja California during 2012 resulted in convictions. Nationwide statistics were recently released, showing few …
Two ultra-light drug smuggling aircrafts seized in Baja
One aircraft crashed near Los Algodones, the other near Mexicali
Two ultra-light aircrafts, which were allegedly used to smuggle narcotics into the United States, have been seized in Baja California. According to authorities, the first discovery was on Tuesday, July 16, after a loud noise alerted police of a crashed …
Former federal police commander killed in Rosarito
Bernardo Oliver Camarena gunned down while at restaurant, assailants captured
A former federal police commander was gunned down while dining at a Playas de Rosarito restaurant, on Monday, June 15. Bernardo Oliver Camarena, a former commander in Baja California Sur, was shot multiple times. The attack occurred shortly after 10am …
Tijuana youth baseball team wins national title, will represent Mexico in Little League World Series
Youth team defeated Veracruz to become national champs
The Municipal Youth Little League Baseball team of Tijuana will represent Mexico in the Little League World Series, after defeating Veracruz in the national title game. The team became the first ever from Tijuana to earn a spot in the …
Leader of Los Zetas believed to have been captured near border
Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales a.k.a. Z-40 captured in Nuevo Laredo early Monday according to sources
Rumors emerged that Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, a.k.a. Z-40, was captured in Nuevo Laredo early Monday, July 15th. @Obsermx posted the arrest picture on Twitter and the photo soon circulated on narco-blogs. An official statement has yet to be released …
PRI leader accepts defeat in Baja California governor’s race
Partial recount confirms Francisco Vegas as winner of election
A partial recount has confirmed results, which were deemed unofficial last week, in the Baja California governor’s election. A computer glitch halted the vote count in which Francisco Vega of the National Action Party (PAN) narrowly defeated Fernando Castro Trenti …
Deportees kill five in Tijuana
Three men living in river canal alleged to have murdered multiple people
A group of three men, who were deported from the United States this year after serving prison time, have been arrested in connection with five Tijuana homicides. The men, Bricio Alberto Marroquín, Francisco Álvarez Guerrero, and Víctor Manuel Domínguez Ramírez, …
Recount required after Baja California governor’s election error
Winner announced, only to be retracted after error was found
A winner was declared in the Baja California governor’s election, Sunday July 9, only to be retracted after officials declared an error may have occurred during the counting process. The first results showed the National Action Party (PAN) candidate Vega …
Border agents seize millions in narcotics at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa port of entries
Large cocaine and methamphetamine seizures along border near San Diego
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced two large narcotic busts, during the days of July 1 and July 2, at the San Diego area port of entries. During the seizures, an estimated $5.4 million in narcotics were seized. The …
U.S. Federal program spent $2.44 million for UCSD study on prostitute use in Tijuana
Ongoing project intends to help with HIV prevention on Mexico border
A research project, which is being conducted by the University of California San Diego, has amassed $2,440,150 in federal funds to research female sex workers and the men who visit them in Tijuana, Mexico. On July 1, CNSNews detailed the …
Medical tourism draws 450,000 visitors a year to Baja California
State tourism secretary emphasizes importance of medical tourism to the region
An estimated 450,000 people a year visit the Mexican state of Baja California for medical tourism. The numbers were recently stated by Juan Tintos Funcke, the state tourism secretary. Tintos Funcke went on to claim that the medical tourism industry …
EPA announces $1 million in environmental funding available for border projects
Programs have until July 31 to apply for grants funding environmental projects near Mexico border
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), $1 million USD will be made available for eligible environmental projects near the U.S.-Mexico border. Proposals must be submitted by July 31. Awards are expected to average around $50,000 each and …
Missing eight year girl old sought in Tijuana area
Authorities and family members are searching for child after she disappeared on June 18
Authorities and family members are frantically searching for an eight year old girl, after she disappeared from a Tijuana shopping center on June 18. The child, Natalia Hernández Hernández, was at the Centro Comercial Soriana de la Plaza Universidad shopping …