# Tijuana’s Brutal Week: 55 Executions in Seven Days
In what has become a violent escalation, Tijuana experienced a harrowing week with 55 executions reported. The current year has seen a staggering total of 1,858 homicides, including 187 in September alone, marking this month as the second most violent period in 2024. Figures have been particularly alarming in Tijuana, though Rosarito and Tecate have also witnessed a surge in deadly incidents.
Data from the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office highlights that Tijuana’s homicide count jumped from 83 on September 18 to 140 by September 26. Baja California as a whole saw an increase in homicides from 111 to 187 over the same period, indicating 76 deaths statewide.
A source within the police force stated, “Key leaders and operatives of the Sinaloa Cartel in Baja California have relocated, and recent times saw the transfer of their hit squads back to Tijuana to support ongoing confrontations.” Detained operatives have corroborated this information with intelligence units of Baja California’s Coordination for Peace and Security.
With the absence of Sinaloa’s top operatives, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and factions led by Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño (El Flaquito) are vying to seize control over the vacated territories, especially in the delegations of Playas de Tijuana, San Antonio de los Buenos, Zona Centro, and Otay.
The volatile environment has led to rapid shifts in alliances among criminal groups. A chilling message found with multiple victims read, “THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ALL THE LOWLIFES. THE CLEANING HAS BEGUN – CJNG.” The message accompanied two complete bodies and a third dismembered man found in a blue Chevrolet Equinox in Lázaro Cárdenas.
An investigator revealed that crime scenes have increasingly featured such messages, though authorities typically refrain from disclosing these details. The messages, consistent with street rumors, indicate the void left by Sinaloa’s leaders and the resulting shifts among other criminal factions.
One notable message on September 23 referred to former Arellano Félix Cartel operatives who switched allegiances. A sedan with California plates was found with a body wrapped in a blanket and a sign accusing them of betrayal, suggesting criminal infighting over lucrative territories.
Adding to the violence, Jesús Alberto Vega Beltrán, previously detained for drug offenses, was killed shortly after being released due to an unlawful detention ruling. Similarly, another Sinaloa operative, Cristian Leonel Thing Taylor, was murdered after his release from a rainy day incarceration.
During a week marked by 55 homicides, law enforcement reported apprehending only two suspects in connection with these brutal slayings. Antonio Gil, wanted for vehicle theft, was caught with firearms and body armor, while Daniel Cruz was detained for a separate murder case.
**Secondary Article: Rising Violence in Mexican Border Cities**
Violence is not isolated to Tijuana, as other Mexican border cities like Juárez and Reynosa have similarly faced increasing homicide rates this year. According to official statistics, Juárez saw 1,088 homicides by August 2024, stirring significant concern among residents and authorities alike.
In Reynosa, recent conflicts involving the Gulf Cartel have left a string of victims, including an incident on September 20 where 14 bodies were found abandoned in a mass grave. These events reflect a broader pattern of cartel-related violence affecting daily life and pushing law enforcement to its limits.
Authorities emphasize the need for federal support and comprehensive strategies to dismantle criminal networks and restore safety to these communities. Policies focusing on prevention, as well as addressing the socio-economic conditions driving individuals towards criminal activities, are paramount to reversing this tide of violence.
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