Over 250 kilos of marijuana found floating off the coast of Baja
Sealed and floating drugs found near Ensenada
According to Baja California authorities, over 250 kilos (551 pounds) of marijuana have been found floating in the Pacific Ocean during the month of January. The most recent discovery, on Saturday January 26th, presented 228.7 kilograms floating off the coast …
Tijuana receives tactical armored truck from U.S. funding
Merida Initiative pays for heavy duty police vehicle to transport criminals
The Attorney General’s Office of Baja California subtly announced, by parking it outside of their Tijuana office, the arrival of a new tactical armored truck to be used by the state police. The vehicle known as BATT, which stands for …
Ensenada police officer accidentally shoots self in head
Officer allegedly kills himself while playing with gun off-duty
Police officers were called to the scene of an accidental shooting in Ensenada on Monday, January 21st, slightly after midnight. When officers arrived at the private residence they found an off-duty municipal police officer, Fernando Enciso Contreras, dead with a …
Baja fugitive arrested in Utah
Man wanted for 2011 murder in Ensenada arrested in Salt Lake City
United States Customs Enforcement Agency officials announced Friday, January 18th, that a man wanted for murder in Baja California was returned after being arrested in Salt Lake City. Saul Camargo-Avendano, who was sought in connection with the Ensenada murder of …
Mexico’s peso and stock market staying strong
Trading and currency showing positive results for start of 2013
Mexico’s stock market continues to strengthen, alongside a strong peso, as the benchmark IPC index of the nation’s top 35 stocks pushes into record territory. According to the Wall Street Journal, the index reached 44,980 during Friday morning trading. The …
Baja California poverty rate high due to migrants
Jobless migrants from southern Mexico hiking poverty numbers across state
According to recent reports, the Mexican state of Baja California has over 320,000 people living in some form of poverty. The Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (National Institute of Statistic and Geography or INEGI) census reported that 13% of …
51 narco-tunnels destroyed during last 6 years in Baja California and Sonora
Outgoing General oversaw discovery and destruction of drug pipelines
In the last six years, according to outgoing General Alfonso Duarte Múgica, 51 narco-tunnels were discovered and destroyed in the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora. General Duarte Múgica, who left his military post on January 4th for a …
New narco-tunnel discovered in Mexicali
Sophisticated smuggling tunnel uncovered along border
Another narco-tunnel, which are used to smuggle narcotics and humans from Mexico to the United States, was uncovered in Mexicali on Saturday, January 5th. According to the Mexicali police chief, Marco Antonio, the tunnel is 10 meters deep and 30 …
Homicide count continues downward for Baja California
Lowest number of homicides recorded in 5 years
Official numbers were released today, January 2nd, by the Procuraduría General de Justicia de la entidad (state attorney general’s office), which showed a large decrease in homicides for the Mexican state of Baja California. To date, 643 homicides were recorded …
Mexican peso ending year on high note
Peso making progress against U.S. dollar as 2012 ends
The Mexican peso made a strong comeback against the United States dollar after seeing all time lows in June of 2012. According to a December 31st report by the Wall Street Journal, the bank of Mexico’s final reference price for …
Tequila bottle meth bust in Tijuana
Two suspects caught with 83 pounds of meth hidden in liquor bottles
Two suspects were arrested in Tijuana on Thursday, December 27th, after state police discovered a couple transporting approximately 38 kilograms (83.7 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine. The narcotics were found hidden in numerous tequila bottles. According to state authorities, police found …
Tijuana misdemeanor detainees released on Christmas Eve
Over 100 detainees with minor charges were released from detention by order of the mayor
Over 100 detainees were released on Christmas Eve in Tijuana by the order of the mayor, Carlos Bustamante, due to an annual act of kindness to release those held in jail over minor crimes to be with their families. 101 …
Baja disappeared persons misrepresented in PGR reports
Only 15 people declared missing in Baja California despite much larger numbers
Statistics recently released by the Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Propuesta Cívica, which allegedly reflect official statistics by the Mexico attorney general’s office, have revealed the massive number of disappeared persons in Mexico over the last 6 years. According to …
Tourism up in Baja California
Numbers showing positive results overall for the state
Tourism numbers have slowly risen during 2012 for the Mexican state of Baja California, showing a 5% increase over the year. Juan Tintos Funke, the secretary of tourism for the state, released the positive numbers on Thursday, December 20th. Results …
Arellano Félix kidnapping kingpin caught
Wanted criminal apprehended after years on the run
The leader of a feared kidnapping ring was arrested after years on the run by Baja state police in Tijuana on Tuesday, December 18th. Juan Diego Alcaráz Muciño, also known as “El Yeyo”, has had numerous arrests warrants since 1996 …
Mexico increases minimum wage for 2013
Agreement to increase minimum wage made, yet rate is below inflation
The minimum wage commission of Mexico agreed Tuesday, December 18th, to hike the current minimum salaries by 3.9% nationwide. While the raise may seem like an improvement, it is less than the 4.2% increase last year and less than the …
Deportation numbers dropping
Number of Mexican nationals deported down 10% in 2012
According to statistics released by the Instituto Nacional de Migración (National Institute of Migration or INM), the number of Mexican nationals being deported from the United States are down 10% for the first 9 months of 2012, compared to the …
Northern California rapist sought in Baja
Man who was convicted after fleeing is believed to be hiding in the Tijuana area
A Northern California man, who was convicted on rape charges despite recently disappearing, is being sought in Baja California after his mothers vehicle was recorded crossing into Mexico on Wednesday, December 12th. Spencer Scarber, the 20 year old convicted rapist …
Escapee caught
Inmate who escaped almost 10 years ago recaptured in Ensenada
A highly wanted escaped inmate was recaptured in Ensenada on Monday, December 10th, after being on the run for over 9 years. Rubén Quintero Madrid, the 35 year old escapee, was arrested after authorities received information on his location. Quintero …