A federal judge in Comondú, Baja California Sur, has ordered a man bound over for trial after prosecutors alleged he built an unauthorized perimeter fence on protected federal coastal land in San Juanico.
The accused, identified only as Francisco “N” under Mexican privacy law, faces biodiversity charges filed by the FGR (Fiscalía General de la República, Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office). Investigators determined the fence encroached on the Zofemat, the Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre, a federally protected strip of land that runs along Mexico’s entire coastline.
Investigation Sparked by Media Tip
The case began when a tip published through a digital media outlet prompted federal investigators to inspect the site. They confirmed the perimeter fence had been built without the required federal permits. The FGR then filed formal charges for crimes against biodiversity.
The judge set no bail conditions but granted prosecutors two months for supplemental investigation. Francisco “N” remains free during the proceedings.
What Is the Zofemat and Why It Matters
The Zofemat is a 20-meter-wide strip of federal land measured inland from the high-tide line along all of Mexico’s coasts. The Mexican federal government owns this land outright. No private party can build on it, fence it off, or alter it without specific federal concessions and permits.
This applies regardless of who holds the title to the adjacent property. Even longtime landowners and concession holders must obtain separate Zofemat permits before placing any structure on this strip. Violations are not handled as simple civil fines. They can trigger federal criminal charges, as this case in Comondú shows.
San Juanico Draws Growing Development Pressure
San Juanico, known to surfers as “Scorpion Bay,” sits on the Pacific coast of the Baja California Sur peninsula roughly 200 kilometers northwest of La Paz by road. The remote fishing village is famous for its long point breaks and has attracted increasing development interest in recent years.
That growth has put pressure on the coastline, making enforcement of Zofemat regulations more likely. Property buyers and builders near any BCS shoreline should verify that their plans do not encroach on the federal zone before breaking ground.
The case was first reported by BCS Noticias.