BajaNomad - Beaches with narco activity?

Beaches with narco activity?

geoffff - 4-30-2012 at 04:07 PM

I usually operate under the assumption that as long as I don't linger near the border, I won't get into trouble. Down to Ensenada or San Felipe, and I'm fine. I don't worry about crime in Baja.

But I was just reading Pappy Jon's 2007 trip report about heading out to the beach ("Ensenada Grande") east of Coco's Corner -- twice. (GPS) Well, this is just the kind of place I would go to myself.

Are there any other remote beaches suspected/known to be narco drop-off points that I should avoid?

-- Geoff

[Edited on 4-30-2012 by geoffff]

Ateo - 4-30-2012 at 04:10 PM

Popotla area..........I hear............but I don't remember where I heard that -- so disregard.

[Edited on 4-30-2012 by ateo]

Mexitron - 4-30-2012 at 04:47 PM

We found a couple of Chinese AK-47s, a foil-wrapped kilo of pot, and a couple rainjackets near our camp in the Seven Sisters...been laying there for awhile so somebody didn't show up to their dropoff point apparently.

Ateo - 4-30-2012 at 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexitron
We found a couple of Chinese AK-47s, a foil-wrapped kilo of pot, and a couple rainjackets near our camp in the Seven Sisters...been laying there for awhile so somebody didn't show up to their dropoff point apparently.

So you partied it up and took target practice right? :lol:

Taco de Baja - 4-30-2012 at 05:03 PM

Quote:

Don't forget the assault rifle had a cartridge jammed in the ejection port.

I agree with Juan that something went down and the guy with the jammed rife ran off into the desert, dropping the pot, the rifle and shedding his jacket as he went and never came back for any of it.

Unfortunately even the remote beaches may have "issues" these days, but It's still not going to stop me from going to Baja. I still believe the areas with easy access to paved roads, are where the problems will occur. The narcos and banditos don't really want to drive for hours on dirt roads, when there are easier drug drop points or people to rob closer to town.

DENNIS - 4-30-2012 at 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Unfortunately even the remote beaches may have "issues" these days, but It's still not going to stop me from going to Baja. I still believe the areas with easy access to paved roads, are where the problems will occur.

Another area to avoid.....don't even think about camping near the beach at Kennedy Cove or Arbolitos....just south of La Bufadora. The drug movers hire the youth in Cantú to unload product from Pangas when the sun goes down and wouldn't appreciate your presence during the operation.

shari - 4-30-2012 at 05:36 PM

one just never knows when or where narco activity may present itself. Even beaches where there isnt any action could have some if a narco boat broke down and drifted ashore...or has to throw some bales over that may wash up anywhere...just keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings even in "safe" areas...and dont hesitate to move on if something doesnt seem just right.

David K - 4-30-2012 at 05:45 PM

The Baja Almanac calls it Ensenada Blanca, the coast north of Punta Bluff. The road is very clear on Google Earth, too.

Mexitron - 4-30-2012 at 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The Baja Almanac calls it Ensenada Blanca, the coast north of Punta Bluff. The road is very clear on Google Earth, too.

I found a "Billy's Bluff" on my Baja Almanac, but no Punta Bluff...oh well, the general area can be seen. We camped out there in 1991, didn't see anything then, but still, I'll take Dennis' advice. The old house up Canada Maximinos is pretty cool---I think owned by the International Company way back. (?)

Curt63 - 4-30-2012 at 07:08 PM

I know a guy who built a house in La Bocana (west of San Tomas in BCN).

He has suspended visiting his house the last few years due to numerous black escalades with black out windows frequenting the area.

He thought they were blackmailing/paying pangueros into running loads north.

Bajaboy - 4-30-2012 at 07:27 PM

I find it humorous that we know all the narco beaches but the military can't get the bad guys :?:

Paulina - 4-30-2012 at 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajaboy
I find it humorous that we know all the narco beaches but the military can't get the bad guys :?:

Dern and I often ask ourselves that same question.

A few years ago we went on a mothership out of San Felipe. Heading back north we were in the channel off of the northern tip of La Guardia, heading to Gonzaga. Our ship passed two white containers with the metal cages, usually used for water, but were full of wrapped packages. We were probably five miles out from the Ensenada Blanca / Calamajue region.

We anchored up in Gonzaga that night and fished the Enchanted Islands the next morning. While fishing we trolled by a portion of one of the islands, tucked way back into the crags was a huge panga with three motors, camo'd out with a canvas cover over the top.

As we passed by a couple guys poked their heads out of the canvas, toting machine guns. These guys were not military.

Another panga was fishing along with ours, and one of the guys pulled out his camera and was quickly told to put it away. Our guide said that they see this all the time and look the other way.

The motherships don't bother them and vise versa.

It's ironic that there's military established in Gonzaga yet this goes on right under their noses.

P>*)))>{

DENNIS - 4-30-2012 at 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curt63
I know a guy who built a house in La Bocana (west of San Tomas in BCN).

He has suspended visiting his house the last few years due to numerous black escalades with black out windows frequenting the area.

He thought they were blackmailing/paying pangueros into running loads north.

Neither God nor Mr. Gomez would approve of that. How sad.

geoffff - 5-1-2012 at 09:52 AM

Good stuff. I'll just stick to my original tactic of avoiding the northwest -- I don't camp anywhere along Hwy 1 north of El Rosario anyway. And keep my eyes open.

-- Geoff

Martyman - 5-1-2012 at 10:44 AM

Report all lost/found bales to my U2U immediately!

DanO - 5-1-2012 at 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Neither God nor Mr. Gomez would approve of that. How sad.

Funny, I'm there fairly often, sometimes for a week at a time, and I've never seen a single black (or any other color) Escalade in that area. What I have seen are a few random military checkpoints, a few tours of the area by the marinas in trucks (and one by helicopter), and the occasional pass along the coast by navy gunboats. I've never seen any evidence that supports any conjecture about trafficking in the area, although the rumors always have abounded.

Curt63 - 5-1-2012 at 01:06 PM

It is one of the northernmost beaches accessible before you get to the San Tomas military inspection. :light:

DanO - 5-1-2012 at 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curt63
It is one of the northernmost beaches accessible before you get to the San Tomas military inspection. :light:

So what? The beach at La Bocana isn't panga-friendly (I have never seen one landed or launched there in the 22 years I've been going there). The only safe place to load and launch a panga in the area is at Puerto Santo Tomas, which is three miles north of the beach.

With all due respect, suggesting to people on a public forum that it's dangerous to camp at the La Bocana beach or the lagoon behind it, based on second-hand accounts of dubious caravans of black Escalades, the guesswork of someone who no longer goes there, and irrelevant geography (there is no military inspection north of Santo Tomas anymore), strikes me as a tad irresponsible. I'm not saying the area is perfect (there have been a few break-ins recently, for example), but it's no Rosarito Beach, Popotla or San Quintin.

[Edited on 5-1-2012 by DanO]

DavidE - 5-1-2012 at 03:00 PM

An arriero can lead out an awful lot of animals bearing an awful lot of product. The judiciales know about this, but try to find 20 mules on some brecha in the middle of the night. The product is dumped off somewhere within reach of an SUV, and there you go. A panga can make it easily across the gulf and they can hold one hell of a lot of contraband. Can Mexican marine radar pick up a fiberglass panga? I don't know.

IMO this issue of "where?" is a moot point.

ssiixx - 5-22-2012 at 03:50 PM

radar picks up everything...

mcfez - 5-22-2012 at 04:01 PM

Are there any other remote beaches suspected/known to be narco drop-off points that I should avoid?

I do a lot of primitive camping.............south of San Felipe................and southward to BoLA. I have yet come across any issues. I would think that if there is a area is suspect to drug traffic......the traffickers themselves would hear of this...and relocate :light:

However.....I have heard rumors about the El Dorado Ranch.

Enjoy your outings

[Edited on 5-22-2012 by mcfez]

motoged - 5-22-2012 at 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
Are there any other remote beaches suspected/known to be narco drop-off points that I should avoid?

I do a lot of primitive camping.............south of San Felipe................[Edited on 5-22-2012 by mcfez]

McF,
The first post of yours that I notoced was over a year ago when you were asking about Calamujue cove east of Coco.

Did you ever make it out there? What sense did you have of it?

DavidE - 5-22-2012 at 04:42 PM

I saw las marinas with a captured 25' panga with THREE 150 horsepower Yamaha engines on it. I wondered how fast it could cross the gulf bearing a full load. You boat experts out there probably have a clue. I don't. How did they even turn it?

chuckie - 5-22-2012 at 05:28 PM

Hey, use any one you feel comfortable with, we aint gonna squeal on ya...

mcfez - 5-22-2012 at 06:25 PM

Oh...I've been here. Not as much though .....OT alot.

I did not make it there as it is with half of my "planned" treks. I ended up over at Snoopy.......I think on that trip. Factor was also that I did not have a four wheel ............and I really do indeed hate getting stuck in the boonies :-)

Loved your bike run pictures BTW.....it was you with the injured leg right? How did it heal up................... good I hope?

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged

Quote:

McF,
The first post of yours that I notoced was over a year ago when you were asking about Calamujue cove east of Coco.

Did you ever make it out there? What sense did you have of it?

Bajamatic - 5-22-2012 at 06:37 PM

Quote:

Punta Riff is just south of that idyllic little bay - I forget the name, that is accessible from the road to La Bocana. And just to the north is Billy's. The entire bay, complete with airstrip and handy irrigation system for your 5 acre "farm", was sold to an Ensenada politician about 5 years ago for 2 mil US, or so I was told. I've camped out there - its a great little cove. I bet those Escalades are security detail.

vacaenbaja - 5-22-2012 at 08:50 PM

Last year we were fishing on a panga out of BOLA. As we
scaned the area for floating debries and such to see if there were any Dorado hanging out,we came upon a BLACK colored buoy which had a
rope attached to it. The pangero said this is very strange and started pulling up on rope that was attac
hed to it. Well as soon as he saw a
plastic wrapped bundle comming up he dropped it and said lets get
the hell out. Someone must have missed their drop last night.

motoged - 5-23-2012 at 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez....I did not make it there as it is with half of my "planned" treks. I ended up over at Snoopy....

Loved your bike run pictures BTW.....it was you with the injured leg right? How did it heal up................... good I hope?

McF,
I would tell you that the leg is okay (plate and 7 pins that I hope to get out some day)....but DT Bushpilot just tells me anytime the broken leg thing comes up that I am trying to get too much sympathy mileage from such disclosures...

Here he is on the beach on the east side of Bahia Concepcion peninsula at north end.....waiting for a mota-panga to pull up....of course he will deny that.... :biggrin:

woody with a view - 5-23-2012 at 06:14 AM

looking for the Padres "lost gold", perhaps?

on another note. in the same "area that shall not be named" we have heard an airplane flying at night fairly low without lights. when we asked the locals a few days later they said the planes land on the beach at night without any lights.....

i'm sure you guys have checked out this Short Take Off and Landing strip before?

SFandH - 5-23-2012 at 06:25 AM

I understand narcos like to come ashore when the surface is glassy, a distant swell is hitting in regular, well defined sets, and close to right point and reef breaks. Definitely stay away from those areas.

jrgarcia619 - 5-23-2012 at 08:22 AM

Wow!!

DanO - 5-23-2012 at 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajamatic

Quote:

That's Bahia Soledad, and there's no airstrip or irrigation system anymore (years ago there used to be, and the locals warned against wandering around up there). A lawyer bought the land and has built and sold several houses and done lots of grading, so it's not as idyllic as it used to be, but it's still pretty spectacular.