### CJNG Orders Execution of Sub-Commander in Tecate
Humberto Cota Contreras, the sub-commandant of the municipal police in Tecate, was gunned down in broad daylight on September 4, 2024, on Pirules Street in the Hacienda San Pablo neighborhood, one of the city’s most troubled areas between 2020 and 2022. Witnesses reported seeing unknown men lingering in the area days before the attack, seemingly waiting for Cota. They carried out the assassination without hesitation, using high-caliber firearms from a gray ISUZU Rodeo and a small car.
A video captured Cota losing control of his Ford 150 pickup and veering off the road after the initial gunfire. The assailants approached the vehicle and continued firing, shooting at least 50 times before fleeing. By the time other police officers arrived, Cota was gravely injured. An arriving paramedic declared him dead on the scene. The identity of the deceased and the incident were confirmed by Elsa Macías Vázquez, Director of Municipal Public Security.
Federal agents conducted a joint operation with state and local officers to apprehend the suspects but were unsuccessful. Hours before the murder, police discovered a threatening “narco-banner” in the Juarez neighborhood, allegedly from the CJNG cartel. The banner warned the local police to stop their interference and alluded to pending violent actions.
The local community was deeply affected, with nearby workers and residents taking cover during the attack. Students at Leopoldo Zea elementary school were placed on the ground by teachers to protect them from the gunfire. Many residents expressed frustration and sadness over the continuing violence in Tecate.
Subsequent to the incident, Tecate’s municipal president, Edgar Darío Benítez Ruíz, expressed his condolences on social media, praising Cota as an invaluable part of the community’s safety efforts. This assassination marked the fifth killing of a municipal police officer in the current administration, highlighting the ongoing violence and cartel influence.
Cota had reportedly been under threat from the CJNG for years. Investigations revealed that he was not only on the cartel’s hit list, but he was also being scrutinized for alleged corruption and involvement in other violent crimes targeting policemen in Tecate. These suspicions included accusations of his potential involvement in multiple high-profile police murders dating back to 2015.
### Secondary Article: Recent Escalations and CJNG Movements
In recent developments, CJNG’s influence and violent actions extend beyond Tecate. Police and security analysts are examining links between the murder of Humberto Cota Contreras and other cartel-related violent incidents in the region. Notably, two attacks occurred immediately prior: one in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, and another in Mexicali.
On September 1, 2024, Kevin Arias was killed and Francisco “El Panchito” Botello was injured in an armed assault in San Luis Río Colorado. Botello, a principal figure in the CJNG’s operations in Tecate, had been entangled in violent cartel activities and turf wars, disrupting the region’s safety.
Following these events, Nicolás “El Nico” Cárdenas Meza was executed on September 3 in Mexicali. These coordinated attacks suggest an intensification of the interconnected violent actions attributed to CJNG, as they strive to solidify their dominance over strategic territories in Baja California.
El Panchito was previously implicated as a leading figure in the CJNG, managing extortion operations and being a key actor in illicit activities. His encounters with law enforcement and rival cartels have marked him as a high-profile target.
As CJNG continues to expand its reach and retaliate against perceived threats, the ripple effects in regions like Tecate and San Luis Río Colorado could signal an ominous increase in cartel-related violence. This sequence of violent outbursts emphasizes the unstable and dangerous grip of cartel operations on regional security and law enforcement.
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