**Motorized Hitmen Wreak Havoc in Tijuana**
In Tijuana, during the last four months of 2024—between May and August—14 people were killed and 20 were injured by criminals using motorcycles to hunt, pursue, and attack their targets.
This series of violent attacks is happening in a city and state where motorcyclists enjoy almost total impunity: riding on the shoulder lines, weaving between cars, and disregarding lanes without being stopped or fined.
Despite the high number of armed attacks and the danger posed by these mobile assailants, the variable of hitmen on motorcycles has not been considered in the analyses of insecurity or in the strategy formulation by the authorities at the Baja California Peace and Security Coordination Table.
When requested for statistics and records of various crimes committed by motorcycle criminals, there was no data available. Approximately 70% to 80% of armed attack cases involve criminals using stolen motorcycles, which are then abandoned during their escape. There are no specific statistics on stolen and recovered motorcycles because theft reports only refer to “vehicles” in general. Investigating each of the 6,786 car theft reports—691 with violence and 6,095 without violence—filed between January and July 2024 would be a time-consuming process.
Investigators working on the security table have indicated that all major cartels, including the Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Arellano cartels, use motorcycle assassins throughout the city, especially in the outskirts. According to information received, most attacks occur in the Zona Centro, Santa Fe, and San Antonio de Los Buenos areas, followed by La Presa and Mariano Matamoros.
**Few Arrests**
As of now, the Tijuana Municipal Police have managed to catch seven alleged murderers red-handed out of the 34 homicides linked to motorcycle hitmen this year. However, only three apprehensions were reported. The State General Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) has only documented one arrest.
On July 21, Leonardo Martínez Rodríguez and Jorge Diaz Bol were captured by municipal police in the Zona Norte following an armed attack on a group of people (no injuries were reported). The suspects were found with two firearms and a motorcycle but were not prosecuted for the attack.
Diaz Bol had an arrest warrant for drug dealing and suffered a gunshot wound to the left ankle, probably inflicted during the aforementioned attack. Both were presented to the FGR for firearm possession.
Mario Cisneros was arrested on June 30 after two individuals shot Antonia Murillo near Amado Nervo Alley in the Zona Centro.
**Notable Cases and Unresolved Incidents**
The most publicized cases that remain unresolved include the attempted murder of money changer Néstor Castañeda Núñez and the homicide of Sergio Quiroz Villa, a young heir of valuable land in Ensenada.
Quiroz Villa was murdered in the Gabilondo neighborhood, and investigators have no leads on the motorcycle-riding assailants or those attacking from a car. Meanwhile, Castañeda Núñez and his wife remain unlocated after an attack, as he reportedly required maxillofacial surgery due to a jaw injury from the attack.
On August 15, Castañeda Núñez survived an attack by two motorcycle-riding assailants. On August 19, police apprehended two hitmen who fled in a car and are now in custody.
Numerous cases remain unsolved, with investigators having no suspects. For example, on August 26, an unknown individual was gunned down on Misión Todos Los Santos Street in the San Antonio de Los Buenos area. A 2017 Honda motorcycle was found abandoned nearby.
**Lack of Restrictions**
The use of helmets by motorized hitmen hinders victim identification. Their modus operandi commonly involves a driver and a shooter. Unlike other high-crime regions, Baja California cities allow the unrestricted use of motorcycles in urban areas.
One investigator criticized the lack of control over motorcycles, as they can be purchased without registration and circulate freely even if stolen. He emphasized that police and the vehicle theft group of the prosecutor’s office rarely conduct operations to verify regularity, facilitating criminal activities.
—
**Related Article: Increased Violence in Tijuana Prompts Call for Stricter Motorcycle Regulations**
Recent months have seen a rise in violent incidents involving motorcycle-riding assailants in Tijuana, leading residents and officials to call for stricter regulations on motorcycle usage. Authorities have reported numerous cases where criminals use stolen motorcycles to carry out attacks and evade capture by quickly abandoning the vehicles.
The situation is exacerbated by the lack of effective policing and the failure to address the issue comprehensively. Calls for measures such as mandatory registration, restricted use of motorcycles in high-risk areas, and frequent police checkpoints are gaining traction as residents demand better security and accountability.
Authorities are yet to implement new strategies, but there is growing pressure to adapt regulations similar to other regions with high motorcycle-related crime rates. Enhanced coordination among local, state, and federal enforcement agencies is also being urged to tackle this escalating threat and ensure the safety of citizens.