**Terrifying Narco-War: CJNG vs CDS in Ensenada**
In a chilling display of narco-terror, the ongoing conflict between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS) has taken a gruesome turn in Ensenada. The horrific discovery of two severed heads in a cooler, accompanied by a threatening narcomessage in a public square, has struck fear into the local community.
Authorities reported that the severed heads had been transported over 107 kilometers from Tecate to the tourist zone of Ensenada. One of the heads belonged to Benancio Mejorado Carlos, a seafood restaurant owner from Tecate, identified by his family. The second victim remains unidentified.
State General Attorney MarÃa Elena Andrade RamÃrez revealed ongoing investigations, with officials awaiting additional security footage from the citizen’s security department along the route used to transport the remains. Current video evidence identifies two individuals responsible for creating an atmosphere of terror on January 26th amidst Sunday family outings at Ensenada’s Civic Plaza.
Security footage captured CJNG operatives arriving in a white Ford Escape at the crime scene, carrying the ghastly cooler. They swiftly placed it in the square before fleeing, leaving a fetid stench that quickly drew the attention of horrified citizens and law enforcement officers who confirmed the gruesome find.
The operation shows how a cartel’s gang has flaunted its ability to maneuver through roads guarded by the National Guard and local enforcements, transporting human remains between cities with impunity. The incident supplements a pattern of similar occurrences in the past, like the assassination of a fisheries chamber leader in July 2024 at El Sauzal industrial zone by another armed group.
Accompanying the human remains was a narcomessage declaring CJNG’s territorial claim over Ensenada and threatening various public officials who are allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. The message was a bold declaration of dominance and a warning to rivals, featuring high-ranking CJNG leader references.
**Municipal Police Involvement and Transformation Efforts**
Amidst ongoing violence, investigations point to corruption within the now-defunct Special Operations Group (GOE) of the Municipal Security Department, suspected of cartel infiltration. Five municipal officers have been detained for alleged collusion with the Sinaloa Cartel, facing charges including forced disappearance and complicit acts in cartel activities.
In response, Alejandro Monreal Noriega, head of Municipal Security, announced the disbanding of GOE, replaced by the Immediate Reaction Unit (URI) to rebuild credibility. This transformation includes vehicle rebranding and personnel restructuring, aimed at establishing a force of untainted officers, trained rigorously in human rights and operational tactics.
Local investigators identified chief orchestrators in this region, highlighting operatives like Daniel Lara Lozano, aligned with CJNG’s goal to undermine Sinaloa Cartel influences.
**Recent Developments in Cartel Activity**
1. **CJNG Recent Targeted Killings**: A known money launderer for ‘Los Chapitos’ of the Sinaloa Cartel was recently killed in a different state, highlighting the cartels’ extended conflicts beyond Baja California.
2. **Local Security Disruptions**: Further tension has been reported in neighboring areas, as security forces engage in sporadic skirmishes with cartel groups, reflecting the broader instability within the region.
As authorities unravel the intricate ties between organized crime and local enforcement, Baja California remains caught in an escalating narco-war with profound impacts on public safety and governance. The efforts to close these security gaps will determine the future impermeability of criminal influence in the region.