The U.S. continues to monitor drug gang activity in Baja California after a recent spasm of violence across Mexico. In Rosarito, attendees of a popular music festival, the Baja Beach Fest, were caught up in the chaos. The most infamous drug lord is Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who was sentenced in February 2019 to life in a U.S. prison. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He joined KYMA/KSWT in April of 2021. July 29, 2010 . The authorities identified some of those arrested as members of the Jalisco cartel, which has been tied to a series of shootings and arson incidents earlier this . "Travelers should exercise extra caution when traveling in and around Mexicali, the Mexicali Valley, and the western part of the state of Sonora due to the potential for increased violence between rival cartel factions. Others suspect a showdown is brewing between El Chapos four sons, who are known as Los Chapitos, and gangsters loyal to the legendary cartel leader Ismael El Mayo Zambada. Baja Beach Fest organizers said they were working "diligently" with officials to ensure a safe event amid cartel violence in nearby Tijuana. Emergency Information for American Citizens, COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR U.S. CITIZENS IN MEXICO, Security Alert Cartel Violence Mexicali Valley, Last Updated: Reissued with updates to health information, U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, Visit Travel.State.gov for More Information, Mexico Country Information and Travel Advisory. U.S. government employees have been instructed . Local officials vowed not to be intimidated. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Obviously, they have developed a plan to seal off the entire city if they need it, Vigil said. "Today we are saying to the organised crime groups that are committing these crimes, that Tijuana is going to remain open and take care of its citizens," Ms Caballero said. Many did, turning the normally frenetic zone of restaurants and bars around Avenida Revolucin into a virtual ghost town. Market data provided by Factset. Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero blamed it on disputes between drug gangs. The shutdowns in Baja, which affected Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali, Ensenada and Rosarito Beach, were reportedly at the hands of the same cartel, but other connections were not immediately known. Mexican Cartel Violence. 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At the beginning of April, the CJNG released messages threatening increased violence in Baja California. The massacre is part of increasing violence in southern Mexico. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Guzmn was also a domestic trophy Amlo could use to claim that his abrazos no balazos (hugs not bullets) security policy which puts fighting the social roots of crime above violent confrontation was working. He now anchors 13 on Your Side at 6, and 10. The following analysis is part of Global Guardian's 2023 Risk Assessment Map. Members of the Mexican National Guard guard outside the Attorney General's Office for Special Investigations on Organized Crime (FEMDO) in Mexico City, on January 5, 2023, after the arrest of . Cartels see the area of Quintana Roo, where the two resort towns are located, . fbq('track', 'PageView'); Your email address will not be published. The violence began on Friday evening when numerous gunmen reportedly from Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) began torching passenger buses, cars, and businesses in several cities. But Calderns policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn. 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Alleged gang members went on a shooting spree in Ciudad Juarez, killing nine people, including four employees of a radio station, after a fight between rival gangs at a local prison left two inmates dead. Less than 20 miles away from where I'm writing this in San Diego . On Tuesday, drug cartel gunmen burned vehicles and businesses in the western states of Jalisco and Guanajuato in response to an attempt to arrest a high-ranking cartel leader of the Jalisco cartel. Mexico has claimed its largest synthetic drug lab bust to date on Tuesday. The shutdowns in Baja, which affected Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali, Ensenada and Rosarito Beach, were reportedly at the hands of the same cartel responsible for a recent series of similar attacks in . We are open; everything is normal, said a woman answering the phone at La Espadaa, a popular restaurant in Tijuana. As Mexican national guard troops patrolled the streets of Tijuana and cruise lines canceled dockings in Ensenada over fears of violence, Baja California residents struggled Sunday to return to normal life after hooded bandits associated with criminal cartels effectively shut down much of the region Friday. There was panic people ditched their bags and their phones, they ditched everything, in order to take shelter, the 32-year-old remembered of the clashes at just after 8am on Thursday. The boundaries of the restricted area are: to the east, the Baja California/Arizona and Baja California/Sonora borders; to the south, from La Ventana (on Highway 5) due east to the Colorado . Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, a former top aide to Joaqun El Chapo Guzman who went by "The Engineer," pleaded guilty to drug charges in Chicago federal court. Advertisement. Cartel violence made way to the streets of Mexicali on Saturday. The above-mentioned seven states accounted for over half of the national total of homicides in the first six months of the year. However, criminals ignored the message as on Sunday a fire was reported in a bus owned by Tours San Carlos a private company that provides transportation services of personnel from manufacturing plants. Legal Statement. Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders per day, with nearly 29,000 people killed since Amlo took office. Four employees of the MegaRadio station who were broadcasting a live promotional event outside a pizza store in Ciudad Juarez were killed in the shootings. The cartels carried out simultaneous attacks in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Tecate. Nine members of an American Mormon . Security experts weigh in. Travelers should avoid the Mexicali Valley until further notice due to the heightened possibility of violence between rival cartel factions. To explore and download the map, click here. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. San Diego Union-Tribune reporters Fry and Mendoza reported from Tijuana. The cartels appear to be targeting stores, vehicles and bystanders in response to disputes or attempts to capture members by Mexican authorities. Overnight on 09 August, violence erupted in Guadalajara and Guanajuato after the arrest of high-ranking CJNG member "El Doble R" on 09 August. The Mexicali Police reported that Magdalena "N," Luis Javier "N" and Sergio Andrs "N," originally from Tijuana, were arrested Friday for their alleged involvement in the arsons reported Friday. On Tuesday, drug cartel gunmen burned vehicles and businesses in the western states of Jalisco and Guanajuato in response to an attempt to arrest a high-ranking cartel leader of the Jalisco cartel. At least 11 people, including a child and a radio presenter, were killed in a wave of violence reported at least four Mexican cities on the US border. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico's Defense Department confirmed Tuesday that soldiers opened fire on a pickup truck in the violent northern border city of Nuevo Laredo over the weekend, killing five men and wounding a sixth. You have permission to edit this article. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Violence continued over the weekend. We will give you more information when we can.. As a result of the violence in Tijuana, the Mexican Army sent 350 soldiers and National Guard personnel to the city to be deployed across Baja California state to help shore up security. Soldiers stand guard near burning vehicles on a street during the operation to arrest Guzmn. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. The violence started in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, when two cartels started a prison riot. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. As a result of the events that occurred on the afternoon and evening of Friday, August 12 in Baja California, authorities from the three levels of government, immediately and in response to the problems that arose, acted in coordination and in unity to implement in all the municipalities of the entity, the necessary actions and strategies to defend and protect Baja Californians, the State Attorney Generals Office said in a statement. The Mexican border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali along with Rosarito and Ensenada have been hit by gang violence that included vehicles being set ablaze and road blockades. The latest Fox News Poll finds that Americans are most likely to lay the blame for the opioid crisis at the feet of drug cartels and pharmaceutical companies. 5 min read. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Were definitely fearful about what happened and the possibility of losing a vehicle, having it burned, but we also feel that public transportation is a responsibility that we have, he said, adding that it seemed like the criminal groups werent looking to hurt anyone, but rather trying to make a statement or issue a warning. The Associated Press. The gangs appear to be targeting stores, vehicles and innocent bystanders in response to disputes or attempts to capture gang members. The federal public safety department said one person was wounded in the violence and that federal, state and local forces had detained 17 suspects, including seven in Tijuana, and four each in Rosarito and Mexicali. One of Saturday detainees after the arson of a vehicle in the Ahumadita area. As Mexican national guard troops patrolled the streets of Tijuana and cruise lines canceled dockings in Ensenada over fears of violence, Baja California residents struggled Sunday to return to normal life after hooded bandits associated with criminal cartels effectively shut down much of the region Friday. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. Plays us like a fiddle., Security expert scar Balderas said the capture would allow Amlo to signal to the US that Mexico was capable of dealing effective blows to organized crime. Shootings and various findings, including a charred corpse, were part of the violent events that took place from 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10, to Thursday, August 11. In fact, La Lnea was one of the groups believed to be responsible for the infamous November 2019 massacre. The following analysis is part of Global Guardian's 2023 Risk Assessment Map. The violence hit Baja California on Friday. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. In a recent article in Axios, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner spoke with 'Morale, will, determination': Do Ukraine forces have an edge one year into war? Christian Galeno joined the News 11/CBS 13 team in July of 2019 as a Weekend Anchor and multimedia journalist. RT.com. The cities of Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, and Ensenada on the US-Mexico border have been besieged by violence as rival drug cartels battle over territory and wage war with police. They know exactly what they need to do. Mastercard and Visa to be hit with 7.5bn compensation claim, Ex-Love Island star addresses being detained in Dubai after video leak, Chelseas Potter reveals death threats from fans. August 14, 2022 7:55 AM. Four people were killed in a 24-hour period, after various attacks and incidents that occurred throughout Mexicali. Copyright 2022 Global Guardian. For Emergency Assistance for U.S. citizens in Mexico, call (55) 8526 2561 from Mexico or 1-844-528-6611 from the United States. The area around Tijuana, which borders southern California, is a lucrative drug-trafficking corridor long dominated by the Arellano Felix cartel but which has since become a battle ground between various gangs, including the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. MEXICO CITY, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Mexican soldiers were sent to the border city of Juarez Friday after a prison face-off between members of two rival cartels caused a riot and shootouts . The current criminal landscape in Mexico is driven largely by the battle between the Cartel Jalisco Nuevo Generacion (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), though three other major transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), Los Zetas, Gulf Cartel, and Juarez Cartel, all contribute to high levels of violence. MEXICALI, B.C., Mex. Security forces released him after orders came down from high-ranking government officials. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. The former Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) chief Mike Vigil said Mexican authorities were partly responsible for the cartels response to Guzmns arrest. . It is believed that CJNG members carried out the blockades in response to the arrest of "El Doble R" in Guadalajara several days before. The border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali along with Rosarito and Ensenada were hit by gang violence that included vehicles being set ablaze and road blockades. Tourists staying at luxury hotels in Cancun and Tulum are noticing a massive uptick in cartel violence as the vacation hotspots have quickly become a key revenue source for drug sales, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. The bodies of 16 people were found in two different cities in Mexico's Zacatecas state on Saturday amid a turf war between two powerful drug cartels. "As of Friday at 10 p.m. through Sunday at 3 a.m., we're going to create mayhem so the . State officials said the assailants hijacked and burned at least two dozen vehicles and put up roadblocks around the state Friday evening. Local authorities said 10 of the bodies were . The Mexicali Police reported that Magdalena N, Luis Javier N and Sergio Andrs N, originally from Tijuana, were arrested Friday for their alleged involvement in the arsons reported Friday. Also known as "Z-40," Morales reportedly executed perceived enemies of the cartel using the method of "The Stew," or El Guiso. Some analysts believe Guzmns arrest was intended as a gesture to Biden, whom Amlo is scheduled to meet in Mexico City on Monday to discuss issues such as migration and security, including Mexicos role in the US fentanyl crisis. All rights reserved. The border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali along with Rosarito and . Preparing for Putin's long war "The word that describes where we're at [right now] is 'stalemate.'" Breaking News !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Mexicali, Rosarito, Ensenada, and Tecate. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Let them fight it out among themselves, but leave us alone, said Tijuana resident Blanca Estela Fuentes, as she looked for some means of public transport. National Public Radio, Aug. 19, Violence erupts in Tijuana, Mexico, following the arrest of a drug cartel leader Jacqueline Wasiluk , Aug. 18, Email to USA TODAY U.S. Department of State, Aug. 17 . The August 12 instructions to U.S. government personnel to shelter in place are no longer in effect.. Officials said the rampage in Ciudad Jurez came in retaliation for a prison riot there, while the chaos in Jalisco and Guanajuato was unleashed by leaders of the Jalisco cartel angry about plans to arrest them. Drug gangs unleash violence in northern Mexican cities. Breaking News The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana instructed its employees "to shelter in place until further notice" around . David Shirk, a University of San Diego professor who follows organized crime in Mexico, said these sorts of events underscore the notion that, in many ways, organized crime calls the shots when it comes to security in Baja California. Both Los Rusos and Los Salazar are themselves linked to the larger struggle within the Sinaloa Cartel between the sons of jailed kingpin Joaqun "El Chapo . Former Mexican Public Security Secretary Genaro Garca Luna was convicted by an anonymous New York jury of drug trafficking and accepting massive bribes to protect drug cartels. MEXICO CITY (AP) The operation to detain Ovidio Guzman, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, unleashed firefights that turned the northern city of Culiacan into a war . MEXICALI POLICE PHOTO, One of Friday detainees after the arson of a public transit bus. Consequently, we continue to expect drug cartel violence to remain high amid continued inefficiencies in policing and . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. But the violence went on. As well as increasing police operatives and patrols all over the Valley of Mexicali, problematic zones and areas frequented by tourists in Los Algodones. The Mexican authorities reported Monday that eight of those arrested over the weekend were transported to the countrys capital to respond to allegations of organized crime. WATCH NOW ABC7 Los Angeles 247 Streaming Even though nobody was killed, the violence, Shirk said, further erodes public trust in government and law enforcement authorities designated to protect them and combat organized crime. Such actions had allegedly caused violent acts, the authorities said. Multiple convenience stores were targeted for arson as well in an effort to cause chaos and divert emergency . By Monica Showalter. It said some of the suspects had been identified as members of the Jalisco cartel, the group blamed for burning stores and shooting people earlier this week in the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato. As Arandas arrived at check-in, gangsters opened fire on both military and civilian planes some still in flight as well as airport buildings, Mexicos defense secretary, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, told reporters on Friday. . High near 70F. The Mexican government reported that over the weekend there were 3,330 detainees in the country. Twitter users ripped into VICE over a photo taken outside the home of Ovidio Guzmn that showed an unfired or dud bullet cartridge poking through a gate. Vigil said Amlos decision had sent a clear message to the leaders of Mexicos two most feared organized crime groups, the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, that if a leading member of the cartel was captured and you generated wholesale violence, there was a good possibility that they would be released. Vigil warned that while normality may have returned to Culiacns streets, cartel bosses would soon order their army of assassins to take revenge on military officials and their families for Guzmns arrest. They Hunt Cartel Killers. . Overnight on 12 August, violence broke out across northern Baja California, including in Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, and Rosarito. Legal Statement. Jerez Mayor Jose Humberto Salazar made the announcement because he could not guarantee safety during his town's annual spring fair. TIJUANA, Mexico The Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito and Ensenada were hit by gang violence that included vehicles being set ablaze and road blockades. Russias economy has weathered the Wests sanctions but how? Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, Tecate, and other Mexican border cities explode into orgy of cartel violence. Seven soldiers were killed in the ensuing gun battle between troops and gangsters with .50 caliber machine guns desperate to avoid the arrest of Guzmn, an alleged cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine trafficker for whose arrest the US had offered a $5m reward. The Global Guardian team is standing by to support your security requirements in Mexico. Live Updates Every key metric of enduring warfare is to the Ukrainians advantage as we go Sign up today to receive monthly articles curated by the Global Guardian team on relevant and important safety and security topics. which affected Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali, Ensenada and Rosarito . Remain vigilant during the daylight hours and avoid travel at night. The Biden administration on Wednesday announced new sanctions on Sinaloa Cartel members linked to the use of "super labs" to create deadly drugs including fentanyl. The CDS has reportedly broken into several major factions: one led by Ismael El Mayo Lambada, El Chapos number two; another by the brother of El Chapo, Aurelio El Guano Guzmn Loera; and another led by El Chapos four sons, known collectively as Los Chapitos. Fighting amongst these groups and the CJNG has contributed to much of the violence in Mexico, particularly in the west and northwest of the country.