BajaNomad - tijuana - new problems

tijuana - new problems

marv sherrill - 1-8-2008 at 10:21 PM

Tried to cross the border around 2 o'clock today - cops everywhere - all roads blocked to border - ambulances, etc - what a mess - preliminary hearsay- big shoot out - cops vs cartel and innocent americans - got diverted to Otay mesa - never go there to get across the border without a sentry pass - what a mess - just a heads up now but I'm sure details will follow on this board - those with connections I'm sure can help with details - sorry I don't know more - Marv

MexicoTed - 1-9-2008 at 01:27 AM

Marv,

There are 1,000's of federal police and military in or heading for Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, etc. right now. I read something last week in one of the Mexico City papers that they were going to gain control from the drug lords and I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the Baja mayors trip to Mexico City.

BajaNomad - 1-9-2008 at 04:04 AM

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, hundreds of federal police arrived in Tijuana yesterday in a new effort to fight organized crime...

They're saying about 1,000 officers would be arriving, and possibly as many as 2,000.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20080109-9...

Alan - 1-9-2008 at 06:51 AM

New problems??

Sounds like they are finally addressing problems. I welcome this news.

Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

Hook - 1-9-2008 at 08:46 AM

I couldnt agree with Jose Maria Ramos (from the article) more.

What are they going to DO

Bob and Susan - 1-9-2008 at 08:57 AM

marv...
unless you know for sure you should
NOT assume there was a "big shoot out"

the police have been closing the ramp to the border earlier and earlier each week because of traffic

they even close off the rear entrance because of too much traffic

they have to keep the traffic flowing to avoid grid-lock

thing written on the internet are often taken too seriously and do harm :light:

nobaddays - 1-9-2008 at 09:08 AM

We should also not try to sweep things under the rug in order to gain tourism. All info and or rumors should be made public. After all, many times there is a lot of truth in rumors! Let the situation settle and the tourism flow will start again. :cool:

David K - 1-9-2008 at 09:27 AM

We have Baja Nomad to keep us happy until it is safe enough to return or to maintain a boycott of Baja until they get their act together... which it seems they are working on.

gnukid - 1-9-2008 at 09:34 AM

I did a search and foud these references to the current situation...

One year ago Calderon said he would mass troops along the border region repeatedly.
http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=1056414

The troops have begun arriving in Texas and TJ. There are about 1,000 in TJ now and there will be 1,000 more. There are equal amounts in Texas.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/index.html

There have been shootouts.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20080107-1934-mexi...

The police are surrendering their weapons. A interim TJ commander was killed in an 'ilicit act' by his body guards--rightfully. Over the last days and weeks there have been various people killed who were apparently involved in corruption.

The drug cartels include US trained combatants who use techniques such as police uniforms, aggressive attacks and intimidation.

To have success the military must be aggressive and vigilant. It has been shown to be working which has reduced drug flow across the Mexico border region and increased the violence while cartels fight back. Conversely drug flow is on the rise through Canada and the drugs are morphing into super meth plus exctasy and meth in marijauna derivatives.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080104....

What is needed is 100% vigilance, higher levels of prosecution, longer more difficult prison terms, higher pay for police plus support in technology and training.

Either this is the beginning of better times or the end of good times but at present these are all good signs. If each effort was increased that would be good.

Not a good time to be a corrupt, drug selling cop... I wish he would send the miitary to every city in Baja and retrain cops.

Woooosh - 1-9-2008 at 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
marv...
unless you know for sure you should
NOT assume there was a "big shoot out"

the police have been closing the ramp to the border earlier and earlier each week because of traffic

they even close off the rear entrance because of too much traffic

they have to keep the traffic flowing to avoid grid-lock

thing written on the internet are often taken too seriously and do harm :light:

This "closing off the border line" is a real pain in the you-know-what at San Ysidro. The Via Rapido should allow you to get in the lane marked "to san diego" and enter one of the two traffic lanes up the bridge and into the inpection lanes. When the traffic is bad though (always these days), the "barbies"close off all the lanes with yellow tape and make everyone go around. (By go around, I mean go around most of TJ- you can't get back into line or even back into line at Zona Rio- you have to corss the flood channel and try from the other side (Padre Kino).

The only solution I have found is to NOT take the via rapido after playas de tijuana- just keep going up the hil land down the ther side instead of making the loop. You wil run parellel to the via rapido on the main streets, drive through downtown TJ and the same street turns into the lane to the USA. The "Barbies" don't turn away the Mexican cars from downtown TJ, just the cars coming from the Via Rapido (toll road and playas).

Yeah, it's a nmess and I could see whay it might look like a military action... jmho though

[Edited on 1-9-2008 by Woooosh]

bajajudy - 1-9-2008 at 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
We have Baja Nomad to keep us happy until it is safe enough to return or to maintain a boycott of Baja until they get their act together... which it seems they are working on.

DK
Are you boycotting Baja?

fdt - 1-9-2008 at 10:11 AM

Judy Judy

Yesterday in Rosarito

Gypsy Jan - 1-9-2008 at 10:13 AM

at the small mid-town Pemex, an open pickup truck with six federales aboard pulled in and started filling up the teflon gas cans that were in the back (two 60-gallon and four thirty gallon containers).

The body language of the soldiers was relaxed, as they joked with the Pemex attendents, but they kept their carbines up and out and stood apart from each other, each one keeping an eye on a different direction as they waited.

As we left town, we saw another truck filled with soldiers pull into the parking lot for Banco Santander and disappear into the covered, open area in the back.

marv sherrill - 1-9-2008 at 11:47 AM

Thanks for the replies - We were just getting bits and pieces off of the radio- need to get Sirius! - last night late we found out that this altercation occurred at the Texas -Mex border and not Tijuana - I put it out as a feeler and not a fact - I guess there is no good time to cross the border, and yes the military had a huge presence -all wearing their scary ski masks -especially at the toll booths -

Woooosh - 1-9-2008 at 11:56 AM

The military is all over Rosarito and patrolling with their machine guns out, loaded and waving. Considering that 30 Rosarito officers just got fired after ballistics tests- that's a good thing (at least for now).

More interesting is that Mexican officials feel the visibility of the military in town will help tourists realx and fell safer. They don't know Americans well I guess.

Hook - 1-9-2008 at 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
The military is all over Rosarito and patrolling with their machine guns out, loaded and waving. Considering that 30 Rosarito officers just got fired after ballistics tests- that's a good thing (at least for now).

More interesting is that Mexican officials feel the visibility of the military in town will help tourists realx and fell safer. They don't know Americans well I guess.

Bout damn time they started doing some ballistics testing in all this. It's the new smoking gun.........well, not so new except in Mexico, I guess.

The one thing I rue with all this military intervention is that it means there is zero chance that anyone will be able to conduct an effective sting operation. That would have been instantly effective and the bad guys would be wondering what's a legitimate target and what's a trap.

As it is now, they will just be laying low until the troops are removed.

[Edited on 1-9-2008 by Hook]

DENNIS - 1-9-2008 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
. They don't know Americans well I guess.

Bout damn time they started doing some ballistics testing in all this. It's the new smoking gun.........well, not so new except in Mexico, I guess.

And who in their right mind would hand in a dirty weapon for ballistics testing?

gnukid - 1-9-2008 at 12:27 PM

I was just visiting the investigators in el ministerio policia in the case of my home robbery I have discussed here, and there the Policia each had copies of the Gringo Gazette articles, translations, letters of no cofidence and discussion of the case of corruptos, they do believe that its not a good time to be corrupt cops, those that are will get killed or at least loose everything as this is a time to distinguish yourself with clear and positive actions.

Its a different day. But a day filled with fear.

The pressure to do their job must be felt throughout from the street beat to the judges to the prisons.

Remember if you don't report crime and bring two witnesses they can't fight it very well. So go and make the reports and identify the criminals.

Hook - 1-9-2008 at 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
. They don't know Americans well I guess.

Bout damn time they started doing some ballistics testing in all this. It's the new smoking gun.........well, not so new except in Mexico, I guess.

And who in their right mind would hand in a dirty weapon for ballistics testing?

A policeman who had one taken away from him when the new set of clean cops moved in from Mexico City.

No one said alot of these bad cops were smart.

Al G - 1-9-2008 at 12:45 PM

Quote:

No one said alot of these bad cops were smart.

That surely is the truth...but there is more in the fact that they have gotten away with it so long, they cannot think in those terms. :cool:

David K - 1-9-2008 at 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

DK
Are you boycotting Baja?

Here is what I posted on tripledigitken's thread:

Our trip to the El Rosario Festival, Asuncion, & Mulege last July was our last trip to Baja... We did take time out for the Baja 1000 in November, but with the recent mafia activity and what happened to the surfers and later the 1000 race team member family... we happily did a tour of Arizona instead.

I love Baja so very much, but the senseless murders Antonio's two brothers-in-law in Nov. '06 had quite an impact on our thinking... and when more police were murdered and now tourists attacked, it is time to give Mexico a loud message... and they respond the quickest when we stop bringing money down...

I am sure that the draw of Baja on me will cause me to cross the border soon enough, but it would be nice to have some law and order established, even if by martial law...

I do hope that things are good so that we may enjoy the Baja-Rosario Cultural Festival next July. Until then, I will probably cross at Mexicali and just stick with beach vacations on Shell Island or Gonzaga Bay as I had done for so many years before.

If Baja stays a mess, than we will be enjoying Hawaii our next vacation! ALOHA!!

bajajudy - 1-9-2008 at 12:56 PM

Aloha to you
Viva Baja

Von - 1-9-2008 at 01:08 PM

New problem? that problem is older than me and I was born in 1972!

motoged - 1-9-2008 at 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
The military is all over Rosarito and patrolling with their machine guns out, loaded and waving. ....More interesting is that Mexican officials feel the visibility of the military in town will help tourists realx and fell safer. They don't know Americans well I guess.

Woooooooooooosh,

Hmmmm, that sounds like US foreign policy in a lot of situations....

fdt - 1-9-2008 at 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Von
New problem? that problem is older than me and I was born in 1972!

Older than me to and i"m from 58 :rolleyes:

fdt - 1-9-2008 at 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

I do hope that things are good so that we may enjoy the Baja-Rosario Cultural Festival next July.

Ok then, less tamales for me to prepare for La Candelaria on Feb 02

comitan - 1-9-2008 at 04:43 PM

And here's more of the story.

http://www.mexicotoday.blogspot.com/

pappy - 1-9-2008 at 08:43 PM

playing devil's advocate for a moment-all that new blood in town might provide for a good recruiting season for the bad guys...

Terry28 - 1-9-2008 at 09:53 PM

We just returned this evening from a few days at our house just south of Rosarito. No problems at all. Both Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo/primo tapia are ghost towns in regards to tourists and gringos in general. The locals we talked with said they are starving business wise...off over 50% some a lot more. They blame publicity over crime,weather, the passport issue and too many rumors, bad ju-ju , etc. Saw a few pickup loads of federal cops, all armed, none 'waving" their weapons etc. Seemed pretty professional. Took about an hour at the border at 1pm today, all lanes open. Rumors of folks asking for their deposits back from the Trump project, seems the sell out on opening day was to a lot of speculators who only made deposits in hopes of re-selling once things "Took Off" seems they haven't. Bummer for The Donald!!

Hook - 1-9-2008 at 10:48 PM

They blame the publicity over the crime? And the need for a passport in this day and age? :rolleyes:

marla - 1-11-2008 at 03:23 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 28, 2007

Baja City Police To Give Up Guns
And Undergo Screening As State
And Federal Agents Assume Patrols

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Over a period of several weeks police in Baja’s five cities will turn over their weapons and undergo a screening process, Rosarito Beach officials said today.
The actions will be taken in different scales in Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, Rosarito Beach and Tecate, said Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres.
The process began at noon today when the 150 officers of the Rosarito Beach Police Department began turning over their weapons to military personnel, both for testing and to determine of they were legally issued by the military, said Torres.
All officers also will take a four-hour polygraph test and screening in Tecate to determine if they have engaged in any improper activities, Torres said.
That effort will be supervised by Baja’s State Preventive Police, headed by Daniel de la Rosa.
While this is being done, an equal number of state and federal police will provide law enforcement for Rosarito, under the direction of the city’s new Secretary of Public Safety, Jorge Eduardo Montero, a 41-year-old retired Army captain.
Such efforts have been undertaken periodically by the military, including in Tijuana about a year ago. The military is responsible for issuing all guns to police, but recent concerns with security and crime also prompted the action now, Torres said.
“The governor knows that security is the main issue,” Torres said.
In the meantime, Rosarito has launched a number of other actions to make the city more secure and improve the police department.
As well as bringing in Montero, the new Rosarito administration will raise police salaries 15 percent Jan. 1, offer officers about a $250 monthly performance bonus and add 80 academy-trained officers over the next several months, about 24 as tourist police.
Rosarito also will seek more automatic weapons for city police.
“Crime is not rampant in Rosarito and we have many fine officers, but we realize that both city security and the quality of the police need to be improved,” Torres said. “We believe the state effort in combination with our actions will significantly help achieve those goals.”

Bug - 1-15-2008 at 07:35 PM

Has any one hear any thing going on in Mexicali...

Woooosh - 1-16-2008 at 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged

Quote:

Woooooooooooosh,

Hmmmm, that sounds like US foreign policy in a lot of situations....

Exactly where in the world in the USA encouraging american tourism in areas where gun-toting militias roam the streets to provide security besides Mexico? Oh yeah, the US state department says don't go to Mexico.

motoged - 1-16-2008 at 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

The military is all over Rosarito and patrolling with their machine guns out, loaded and waving. ....More interesting is that Mexican officials feel the visibility of the military in town will help tourists realx and fell safer. They don't know Americans well I guess.

Woooooooooooosh,

Hmmmm, that sounds like US foreign policy in a lot of situations....

Woooosh,

"gun-toting militias "... Does "Blackwater" ring a bell?

"the visibility of the military in town will help tourists realx and fell safer" .... Uhh, G. Dubbya suggested that such a presence would be welcomed by locals, never mind tourists.... not in Mexico , but Iraq.....How's that working out?
Your initial statement said nothing about promoting tourism, but referred to the notion that tourists needed to feel comfortable.

My point is that there is more to Mexico and its problems than simply catering to tourism....and , if American tourists don't like an armed presence roaming the streets, they might consider how other nations might feel about the US foreign policy that also sets up such conditions in other countries.

I don't want to get into some anti-terrorism justification thread here, but am commenting on the impact of attempts to "create safety and stability".

Do you feel safer in airports these days with the increased armed presence and other security measures? Some folks do, some don't.

Some folks on this forum have suggested vigilantism as a solution to the recent thefts and assaults....is that a better idea than letting the Mexican authorities do their best to address the problems?

There is the gun-loving response to problems and there are the alternatives....neither which necessarily present themselves as the preferred or most effective solution.

Some folks are uncomfortable traveling in parts of the world where an armed presence is more visible....some accept it as "cultural difference".

No easy answers here....

Ged

Woooosh - 1-16-2008 at 11:53 AM

point taken

marla - 1-16-2008 at 05:16 PM

30 Rosarito cops got fired after ballistics tests? Tell me more!