The popular tourist town of Cove, Baja Californiahas monopolized the spotlight, but this time for being the scene of a new violent event: the disappearance of the brothers Callum and Jake Robinson ―from Australia― and Jack Carter Road ―from the United States―. The foreign They arrived in the country with the intention of enjoying a pleasant vacation, but during some point during their recently begun trip they lost contact with their families, causing the authorities of the three countries to mobilize.
According to statements from Debra Robinson, mother of Callum and Jake, the three young people arrived at the Puerto Faro San Josébelonging to the municipality of San Quintín, Baja California, to practice surfing on April 26.
Reports indicate that the three spent the night somewhere near San José and Ensenada in tents. His plan was to move to Rosaritoa city in which they already had rented a airbnb to continue with your tourist experience. However, on April 27 they stopped responding to their families.
After the corresponding disappearance report, the Mexican authorities established communication with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBIfor its acronym in English), as well as with the Consulates of USA and Australia.
But everything seems to indicate that the search is over.
During the morning of May 3, three lifeless bodies were located more than 15 meters deep in a well La Bocana, Ensenada. Authorities presume it is the Robinsons and Carter Road.
In this regard, the doubt arises: What drug cartels operate in the area? And is it possible that any of them are behind this crime?
Although the head of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) of Baja California, María Elena Andrade Ramírez, revealed in an interview for El Financiero TV that the main line of investigation indicates that the disappearance and murder of the three surfers was a circumstantial crime ―result of unforeseen circumstances or situations that arise at a given time―, it highlights that in the entity there is a presence of three drug cartels.
On the one hand there is the Arrellano Félix Cartel (CAF)also know as Tijuana Cartel. This is a criminal organization established in BC at least since 1980 by the brothers Benjamín, Ramón, Francisco Javier, Rafael, Eduardo and Enedina; designated as the current leader.
In February 2024, the Weekly Zeta revealed that drug trafficking activities, led by this criminal group, were the main motive for the armed attacks that occurred in the port of Ensenada in the first weeks of the year.
On the other hand, various journalistic reports refer that the Sinaloa Cartel It also operates in Ensenada and other Baja California cities.
As revealed by a hitman belonging to the ranks of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada In February of this year, the criminal group charged businessmen, fishermen, merchants and pharmacies in the area.
Likewise, he confessed that they have alleged links with Ensenada authorities with the approval of Mayor Armando Ayala.
Finally, according to the journalist Oscar Balderashe Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) He entered this territory approximately five years ago, increasing the violence in the entity.
According to information collected by the communicator, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho’, gave instructions to his men to take the city’s port from the CAF and the CDS.
Ensenada is important for drug trafficking due to several factors that favor operations of criminal organizations in the region.
Its geographical location is strategic: It is located on the Baja California peninsula, with access to the Pacific Ocean, which facilitates maritime drug trafficking from South America to Mexico and, potentially, to the United States. The coastal extension allows the use of esmall and medium boats for the transfer of illicit substances, minimizing detection by the authorities.
On the other hand, Ensenada’s proximity to important land traffic routes is another relevant factor. The roads that connect with the rest of the peninsula and with the US border allow the movement of drugs to the main consumer markets. Furthermore, the presence of rural areas and less populated areas in their surroundings can facilitate covert operations and the establishment of clandestine laboratories.
Finally, the port of Ensenada, one of the most important in Mexico due to its capacity and depth, can be used for drug trafficking activities, such as receiving and shipping containers that hide drugs among legal merchandise, thus making their detection difficult.
The combination of these factors makes Ensenada a relevant point on drug trafficking routes in the region.
