### Six Officials from Tijuana’s XXV City Council Test Positive in Drug Tests
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the Office of the Attorney General in Tijuana’s XXV City Council conducted its second day of drug testing for first and second-tier officials. As a result, six officials have tested positive for certain substances. According to Juan Luis González Burgueño, Director of Internal Affairs, 330 tests have been administered to public servants, and six have come back positive. He emphasized that a positive result doesn’t necessarily indicate wrongdoing, as it could be due to psychiatric treatments or weight loss medications.
None of the positive results were found to be due to illicit drug use, but rather from the consumption of legal medications. The Attorney General, Teresita de Jesús Balderas Beltrán, highlighted that they invested 37,500 pesos to purchase 500 drug testing kits, prioritizing officials from the first and second tiers.
“We requested the purchase of 500 tests and organized a sudden call to ensure officials couldn’t detoxify beforehand,” said Balderas. She mentioned that officials were notified through official channels and were expected to attend at their convenience. Notably, Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz has yet to undergo testing.
The Director of Internal Affairs noted that if officials justify their absence from the tests, there wouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, it would be reviewed. If a positive result occurs, a confirmatory second test could be done if the official disputes the initial result. Despite testing over 300 individuals, the Police Department was not part of this recent testing, owing to budget constraints, but plans are in place for the upcoming year.
### Broader Issues with Public Official Drug Testing in Tijuana
The city of Tijuana has faced ongoing challenges in implementing effective drug testing for public officials and departments like the Municipal Police. Limited budget allocations have historically delayed comprehensive testing initiatives. Earlier years highlighted a notable number of positive results in municipal departments such as the Police, Fire Department, and Sanitation Services, where substances like methamphetamines, amphetamines, and marijuana were detected among staff.
This new testing round is part of broader efforts to maintain transparency and accountability within the city’s administration. However, as the remaining departments await their evaluations, discussions continue regarding the necessity of a larger budget to ensure widespread compliance and testing integrity across all sectors.
The broader context suggests these efforts are crucial for enhancing public trust and ensuring that leaders adhere to ethical standards while addressing health-related justifications for some positive results. Public feedback has stressed the importance of prioritizing such tests, especially given previous controversies tied to drug use in official capacities.