In Baja California, the pressing issue of missing persons has been highlighted by the recent admission from the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) that they have only 15 agents dedicated to investigating these cases. According to Fidel Corvera Gutiérrez, head of the Specialized Units Prosecutor’s Office, Tijuana has eight investigators focused on disappearances, while Mexicali only has three investigators and one coordinator overseeing operations.
The shortage of personnel is a significant concern, especially when faced with the staggering estimate of approximately 20,000 missing individuals in the region, as reported by Angélica Ramírez from Una Nación Buscando T. Rafael Orozco Vargas, the state’s chief prosecutor, has underscored the need for an expansion of the workforce within the FGE. He has called for additional budget allocation from the local Congress, emphasizing the critical nature of addressing both homicides and unresolved disappearance cases.
Orozco Vargas has outlined the necessity for 30 agents to adequately cover the three primary areas of concern: homicides, disappearances, and gender-related crimes, which consistently receive the highest number of reports and require intensive investigation. The establishment of a specialized unit for missing persons, initiated by María Elena Andrade Ramírez, the head of the FGE, marks a step forward, but the initiative is still in the phase of being fully staffed and operational.
In October, the FGE began evaluating the financial requirements for 2025, with the anticipation of having a precise budget by the end of November to address these staffing needs. The efforts reflect a broader strategy to improve investigative efficiency without placing undue strain on the budget.
**Secondary Article: Progress and Challenges in Missing Persons Cases**
Additional reports and insights from various sources indicate that Baja California is grappling with an even larger number of disappearances than initially estimated. Paula Sandoval, leader of the collective group, Familiares Unidos Buscando a Nuestros Desaparecidos, reported in late August that the actual number of missing persons might be as high as 30,000.
The lack of sufficient investigative resources has spurred various advocacy groups to push for more substantial governmental intervention. These groups continue to call for not only an increase in the number of investigators but also for advanced training and resources that could expedite case resolutions.
Across Mexico, the overall structure of missing persons investigations is under scrutiny, with systemic reforms being proposed to enhance both efficacy and accountability. The pressing situation in Baja California is a microcosm of a national crisis, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address this humanitarian issue comprehensively.
By prioritizing these reforms, authorities believe that significant strides can be made in resolving countless cases, providing closure to affected families, and restoring public trust in law enforcement’s ability to tackle such critical issues.