BajaNomad - Baja California Sur Tries to Shield Itself From Criminal Element

Baja California Sur Tries to Shield Itself From Criminal Element

bajabound2005 - 3-17-2009 at 01:53 PM

(LA Times)
Many aren't aware that Mexico's Baja California peninsula consists of two states: Baja California and Baja California Sur.

Now the latter, prompted by drug-related violence and other crimes occurring in the former, has enacted a three-point "shield" program it hopes will keep BCS safe and discourage criminals.

It's called "Baja California Sur, Estado Seguro," and it's essentially a stepped-up checkpoint effort that might, at times, represent a lengthy inconvenience for tourists.

The first phase was implemented at the ferry station in La Paz, an entry point for motorists from Sinaloa, which is home to the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. The second phase was implemented near San Ignacio, close to the state's border with Baja California on Mexico's transpeninsular highway.

A third phase will be implemented at the international airport in Los Cabos. The shield program involves random checks that are much more thorough than those typically carried out. Mexican citizens and tourists are being fingerprinted and photographed, and asked to produce vehicle registration and vehicle identification numbers.

It has caught some motorists by surprise. One tourist, on a Vagabundos del Mar travel club message board, described the experience as "hell" and said it took more than an hour to complete the process.

However, not all are being asked to comply. Sean Collins, founder of Surfline, a swell forecasting service, e-mailed me this morning to say his recent surfing trip was without a hitch.

"I just drove my Xterra all the way down Baja to La Paz, across the ferry to the mainland, and from Mazatlan all the way down to Salina Cruz," Collins wrote. "I went through about 10-12 Federal and Army checkpoints, and was waved through every single one. Not once was I stopped and only a couple times was I even spoken to."

This morning I called Maria Cataldo at Discover Baja travel club and she had just spoken to Rafael Pena, a BCS tourism official. Pena told her that the program has resulted in some arrests, mostly of thieves in stolen vehicles, and is designed to provide tourists with peace of mind.

"He said it's for the tourists' own good, to know they're entering a secure state," Cataldo said.

--Pete Thomas

tripledigitken - 3-17-2009 at 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
(LA Times)
Many aren't aware that Mexico's Baja California peninsula consists of two states: Baja California and Baja California Sur.

Now the latter, prompted by drug-related violence and other crimes occurring in the former, has enacted a three-point "shield" program it hopes will keep BCS safe and discourage criminals.

It's called "Baja California Sur, Estado Seguro," and it's essentially a stepped-up checkpoint effort that might, at times, represent a lengthy inconvenience for tourists.

The first phase was implemented at the ferry station in La Paz, an entry point for motorists from Sinaloa, which is home to the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. The second phase was implemented near San Ignacio, close to the state's border with Baja California on Mexico's transpeninsular highway.

A third phase will be implemented at the international airport in Los Cabos. The shield program involves random checks that are much more thorough than those typically carried out. Mexican citizens and tourists are being fingerprinted and photographed, and asked to produce vehicle registration and vehicle identification numbers.

It has caught some motorists by surprise. One tourist, on a Vagabundos del Mar travel club message board, described the experience as "hell" and said it took more than an hour to complete the process.

However, not all are being asked to comply. Sean Collins, founder of Surfline, a swell forecasting service, e-mailed me this morning to say his recent surfing trip was without a hitch.

"I just drove my Xterra all the way down Baja to La Paz, across the ferry to the mainland, and from Mazatlan all the way down to Salina Cruz," Collins wrote. "I went through about 10-12 Federal and Army checkpoints, and was waved through every single one. Not once was I stopped and only a couple times was I even spoken to."

This morning I called Maria Cataldo at Discover Baja travel club and she had just spoken to Rafael Pena, a BCS tourism official. Pena told her that the program has resulted in some arrests, mostly of thieves in stolen vehicles, and is designed to provide tourists with peace of mind.

"He said it's for the tourists' own good, to know they're entering a secure state," Cataldo said.

--Pete Thomas

We crossed the checkpoint at San Ignacio (southbound) on Monday last week. The mexican woman in front of us was sent over to the trailer with the computers, while we were waved through. In all the checkpoints both NB and SB the inspections were either non-existent or if they did search it was very brief. Only saw dogs used at the northbound inspection just south of Ensenada.

There was a Navy Checkpoint at San Bruno (they are in gray uniforms with "Marina" logos across the front). Saw the go-fast Mexican Navy ship around San Bruno and Santa Rosalia over two days, no doubt as a response to the incident of the drug smugglers at San Lucas 3 weeks ago. The airport at the Serenidad has the military back as well.

Ken

[Edited on 3-17-2009 by tripledigitken]

Osprey - 3-17-2009 at 03:13 PM

Years ago we implemented procedures at the border to deter people from coming down south here, now we are putting checkpoints everywhere. We don't want any trouble down here. We'll be taking out ads to warn all you criminal types to stay up north, that we don't roll that way. We are simple fishermen. We don't inhale, never did, never will.

CaboRon - 3-17-2009 at 06:26 PM

I inhaled and I am down here too ...

Perhaps your we is not so all inclusive as you might have thought :lol: