Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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Robbed in Rosarito
Last weekend my daughter took three of her friends to our place just south of Rosarito. We've had the place for seven years and she has been there
dozens of times. I have just recently allowed her to go without the family, shes 21. I'll let her tell you about it......We had just arrived in town
after stopping by the trailer at about 2:30 in the afternoon and parked our big ol suburban a block north of papas and beer. We walked about 15 feet
when a marked white F150 pulled up next to us and 5 rosarito police (fully uniformed, badges and guns included) jumped out the back and accused us of
smoking pot and told us we were going to jail for walking in the street. They searched us all twice, then asked which hotel we were staying at. When I
told them I had a place down here their tone immediatly changed and there were no more threats of jail, but of a ticket. I was separated from my
friends so they could "search" the truck. (Its always completely empty) When I was allowed to return to my friends the police quickly left. My friends
told me that as soon as I was gone they were asked how much money they were carrying. There was an officer on the corner of the street checking for
people walking by and as soon as someone would come my friends were told to put their money away. In the end, they were left with sand in their
pockets. The police told them not to tell anyone, of course. There were four men and a woman officer, they took a little over $250. I always expect
something like that when I head south, but this was the first time I had to experience it. Thats her story, these guys were pros,
they put a lookout on both corners and terrorized these kids. I'm sure it wasn't the first time, But in broad daylight in the middle of town....
Things are changing in the norte. Que lastima
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elgatoloco
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Location: Yes
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MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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David K
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Really bad stuff... very sorry for what she and her friends had to go through... Please let us know about the follow up.
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drzura
Nomad
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Registered: 7-1-2006
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You can keep the "norte". That part of Baja is such a chit hole now. Thank god I only drive through the "Norte" so I can stop in the "Sur".
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tim40
Senior Nomad
Posts: 574
Registered: 3-29-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach
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Mood: There yet?
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Did the formally report it?
When searching for the end of your rainbow you only have until dusk....
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
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Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
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The Business men are coming to understand they must do something.
Not sure that this will do much good but at least the business leaders are aware of the problems!
Those of you in Baja Sur should not be too smug. If it is not stopped in Norte it will flow down your way--or up from Cabo.
Phil,
Really sorry your kids had to go through what they did.
August 20, 2006
Tijuana News
Business Leaders Call for Military Intervention
Frustrated by continued violence, prominent business
leaders in Tijuana are urging the Mexican army to assume a
bigger crime-fighting role. According to Daniel Romero
Mejia, the president of Tijuana's Business Coordinating
Council (CEE), local, state and federal police forces are
too hamstrung by limited resources to effectively fight
public insecurity and organized crime. Romero's contentions
contradict recent statements by the federal Ministry of
Public Security (SSP) and the Federal Office of the
Attorney General (PGR) that emphasized crime-fighting
progress in Tijuana and Baja California, including the
recent detention of Javier Arellano Felix, a leading member
of the Tijuana Cartel, by US law enforcement personnel.
In a report made public last week, the SSP said more than
90 members of kidnapping rings, mainly consisting of
current or former police officers, have been arrested since
the implementation of Operation Safe Mexico in June 2005.
In a separate statement also issued last week, the PGR said
120 members of the Tijuana Cartel have been arrested during
the Fox Administration. The PGR added that defendants in 26
cases were sentenced to 20 years or more in prison.
Nonetheless, the CCE's Romero and other business leaders
contend that Mexican law enforcement authorities are
increasingly hard-pressed and surpassed by criminal
violence. "(Police) have done their intelligence and
investigative work," Romero insisted, "(but) we haven't
seen the expected results, given that kidnappings, forced
disappearances and shoot-outs in broad daylight are daily
news."
In another spate of violence, two young men were shot to
death in one of Tijuana's subdivisions early in the morning
of Saturday, August 19. One of the victims, 25-year-old
Carlos Gualberto Ontiveros ******, worked as a bodyguard
for the chief of the internal affairs division of the Baja
California Office of the Attorney General.
In an effort to curb the border city's high rate of violent
crime, business leaders from the CCE, Chamber of Commerce
and other private sector organizations have requested extra
help from Mexican President Vicente Fox at meetings in May
2005 and again last week. Some now clamor for the Mexican
army to step in and take control Tijuana's security
situation.
While praising the arrest of Arellano Felix, many Mexican
and US observers warn that the cartel figure's detention
could actually trigger an escalation of violence as
wannabes and rivals duke it out for control of the valuable
Tijuana "plaza." Laura Freeman, a Mexico program associate
for the non-profit Washington Office on Latin America
(WOLA), cautioned against relying on "quick fix" solutions
to organized criminal activity like deploying more Mexican
soldiers in the anti-drug war.
In a new WOLA report on drug-related violence and
corruption in Mexico, Freeman criticized shows of force
like the current Operation Safe Mexico as ultimately
falling far short of suppressing violence, corruption and
drug trafficking. "A massive show of force does not reduce
trafficking or the crime and corruption that accompany it,"
Freeman said. "These vicious cycles of violence can best be
quelled by reducing drug demand in the United States and
undertaking serious police and justice reform in Mexico
over the long term."
Sources: Frontera, August 16, 17, 18, and 19, 2006.
Articles by Luis Adolfo San and Ana Cecilia Ramirez. El
Universal, August 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 2006. Articles by
Maria de la Luz Gonzalez, Julieta Martinez, Javier Cabrera,
and the Notimex news agency. Washington Office on Latin
America, August 17, 2006. Press statement. La Jornada,
August 16, 2006. Proceso/Apro, May 26, 2005. Article by
Juan Arturo Salinas.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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This has got to stop! This type of consistant news is overwhelming.
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3687
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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I don't stop in Rosarito any more
Used to be a regular stop for the panaderia, Pemex, maybe a little grocery shopping.
Now I keep my eyes straight ahead and motor on!
If the business guys want our business, then they need to do something about this, no one else can.
Adios to a not so nice place!
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capn.sharky
Senior Nomad
Posts: 686
Registered: 9-4-2003
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I'm with you all
All this bad new coming out of Baja Norte. I think I will just fly down from now on. I have made a lot of friends in different towns going south,
but I must admit that these stories really scare me. No more stopping in Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito or San Q. for me. I will gas up in El Rosario,
but not stay there anymore. Seems like the Mexican Gov't should do something about police corruption, but are unwilling to stop it. I know they read
the posts here and on other sites. Any ideas anyone? Is there something we can do as a group? I am open to suggestions.
If there is no fishing in heaven, I am not going
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
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Mood: Just dancing through life
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Captain
See suggestions in Sea Change of philosophy above
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
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Location: oxnard, ca
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Capt. Sharky
What has happened in El Rosario that caused you not to stay there anymore?ER always seamed to be the last/first bastion of sanctity in the Norte.
I try to hold my breath and look straight forward until I get there..If bad things are happening THERE....I'm done!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64492
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yah Sharky, what happened in El Rosario? You know I have stayed there over a dozen times in the past year and we like it there so much, we are
seriously thinking of making it a home. The Baja Cactus Motel is a shining star among lodges in Baja, as well.
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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David, regarding follow up, we chose to do this thru the private sector. You can understand the kids didn't want to run down to the police
station...We have some friends that are involved with organizations that provide equiptment and services to the red cross, police, bomberos etc. We
let them know about this, and it will become known to the city fathers. Whatever good that does who knows?
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by capn.sharky
All this bad new coming out of Baja Norte. I think I will just fly down from now on. I have made a lot of friends in different towns going south,
but I must admit that these stories really scare me. No more stopping in Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito or San Q. for me. I will gas up in El Rosario,
but not stay there anymore. Seems like the Mexican Gov't should do something about police corruption, but are unwilling to stop it. I know they read
the posts here and on other sites. Any ideas anyone? Is there something we can do as a group? I am open to suggestions. |
you might try sending links to these threads to the dept. of tourism.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3687
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Making the news up here
KCBS had a segment this morning on the violence and how it is impacting tourism.
They linked it to the political uncertainty and indicated that no end is in sight.
Sad!!
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CasaManzana
Nomad
Posts: 398
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Was Mulege:Posada Beach/now Zihuatanejo
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Any REAL figures on the impact.....?
Anyone in the Norte or CA get any real news as to the tourist impact (maybe in lost pesos or tourist count) of these events near Ensenada and Rosito
Beach? Always seems to be a big fuss for a few days then its BAU (business as usual) as the tourists flood in again. And I'm not sure the average
"Hey! Let's go to Mexico for the weekend" tourist ever hears of these events anyway. Maybe someone can enlighten me of just what news does get out up
there in GringoLand.
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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CasaManzana,
From what we have seen in our business is pretty much like you have said...Mexico will get some bad press from a situation and it is a big deal for a
few days and then it blows over and people continue to travel there. I know last weekend you could not find an available hotel room anywhere between
Rosarito and Ensenada so apparently most people were not concerned with the possible repercussions of the Arellano Felix capture.
Odds are most travelers going to Baja will have a great trip and come home with nothing but good memories to share, and that is why people will
continue to go there in the future. A few questions to consider though - are the crime rates rising in Baja? Or do we just hear about more about crime
in Baja because of the internet and media attention?
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