### Wave of Violence by CJNG Hitmen
In recent days, a series of brutal homicides in at least three municipalities in Baja California have brought to light a deadly network between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Arellano Felix Cartel (CAF). This unraveled the internal disputes led by Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño, also known as “El Flaquito,” a notable figure within the latter cartel.
The killings have primarily targeted CAF operatives and hitmen who had been in conflict with the Sinaloa Cartel over drug thefts. This ongoing feud has created dangerous fractures, particularly for Huerta, who is additionally embroiled in disputes with two former criminal associates. Investigators have identified the perpetrators as part of the faction led by Brayan James Corona, or “El Apache,” who Huerta alienated after believing they provided information that led to his shooting in December 2023.
Simultaneously, the CJNG is believed to be retaliating because Huerta’s allies allegedly stole 200 kilos of cocaine from them. The recent surge in violence within CAF and the ongoing Sinaloa cartel wars between Los Mayos and Los Chapos factions—marked by violent confrontations and murders—have incited Jalisco to tighten its control over drug trafficking routes through Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada.
**Related Incident: Gang Shooting at Birthday Party in Tijuana**
A chilling attack on February 3rd in Tijuana’s Hipódromo neighborhood highlighted the ongoing cartel violence. At a birthday celebration for a university student named César, gunmen arrived and opened fire, directly targeting Sebastián Moreno Olivas, known as “El Sebas.” Though they missed their intended target, the gunfire led to chaos, wounding one party-goer and resulting in Moreno’s death.
Sebastián, who had previous run-ins with law enforcement for severe offenses, was alleged to have connections to the criminal underworld, as evidenced by surveillance capturing him during an attempted hit on “El Flaquito” weeks earlier. Forensics matched the weapons used in this horrific act to two past homicides, underscoring the persistent and deadly threat posed by organized crime in the region.
### Secondary Article: Turmoil Amidst Cartel Tensions Across Baja California
The violent activities of the CJNG and CAF also include increasingly brazen acts: assassinations of former CAF members like Óscar González Sotomayor and targeted threats against officials bring concern over cartel reach and capabilities.
In a grisly scenario, authorities discovered González’s body in Tijuana, accompanied by messages threatening regional law enforcement. This display of audacity by the CJNG serves as a warning, asserting their dominance in the area despite persistent rivalries.
Meanwhile, the ongoing criminal strife extends beyond direct killings. The identification of networks behind these killings has provided authorities with critical insights. The involvement of noted criminal figures, possibly pulling strings from prison cells or distant locales, illustrates the lattering structures that complicate enforcement efforts.
The situation remains tense as law enforcement agencies in Baja California struggle to contain escalating tensions and retaliatory violence threatening public safety and order in the region.