Baja California Sur Senator Susana Zatarain took the floor of Mexico’s Senate on Wednesday to demand that Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío be summoned to answer for the state’s deteriorating security situation. Zatarain, a member of the opposition PAN (National Action Party), cited a series of violent episodes as grounds for a formal Senate hearing on BCS security failures.
Among the incidents Zatarain listed: the assassination of a deputy secretary for high-impact crimes, a violent episode within the Los Cabos Public Security force itself, and allegations that police officers played a role in forced disappearances. Each case, she argued, points to a systemic breakdown in law enforcement under the current state government.
Governor Castro Under National Scrutiny
Castro Cosío, a member of the ruling Morena party, has served as governor since September 10, 2021. A former teacher, union leader, and mayor of La Paz, he won the governorship after a long career in state politics. His administration has faced mounting criticism over rising violence, particularly in the Los Cabos corridor and the state capital.
Zatarain also accused the federal government of applying an uneven standard when responding to security crises across Mexico’s 32 states. She pointed to the entry of U.S. military aircraft into Mexican territory earlier this year, linking those flights to subsequent drug interdiction operations carried out in Baja California Sur. The senator did not provide further details on the specific operations.
Security Concerns in Los Cabos and La Paz
The demand for a Senate hearing raises the profile of BCS security problems from a local issue to a national political fight. Forced disappearances, cartel-related killings, and corruption within police ranks have all made headlines in the state over the past year. The assassination of a senior security official is particularly alarming because it targets someone tasked with investigating exactly the kind of violent crime plaguing the region.
Los Cabos, which draws millions of international visitors each year, and La Paz, the state capital popular with retirees and long-term expats, are the two population centers most affected by the security breakdown Zatarain described.
It remains unclear whether the Senate will formally summon Governor Castro Cosío. The demand from an opposition senator does not guarantee a hearing, but it places political pressure on Morena leadership to respond. This story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.