bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Mood: words cannot describe...
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Baja California Sur Tries to Shield Itself From Criminal Element
(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
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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| 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]
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
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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.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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I inhaled and I am down here too ...
Perhaps your we is not so all inclusive as you might have thought 
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Paladin
Nomad
Posts: 164
Registered: 3-25-2006
Member Is Offline
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Inhaling is very good for you
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paladin
Inhaling is very good for you |
Try 5 minutes without and you should be ready for "zee pine box"
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
I inhaled and I am down here too ...
Perhaps your we is not so all inclusive as you might have thought |
Perhaps it is !? 
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DT.IN.LB.BAJA
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 8-5-2008
Location: Los Barriles, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Smiling
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Wow
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