Seven people were killed in execution-style homicides in Tecate over a 24-hour period last weekend, yet Mayor Román Cota told reporters on Monday, July 6, that the border municipality is “totally safe.”
Cota made the claim during a press conference in Tecate when journalists asked him directly about the surge in killings. He pointed to a large public gathering held the day before, where he said thousands of families watched the Mexico soccer match at a romería, or street festival, without incident.
Weekend Violence Caps Weeks of Escalation
The seven killings over the weekend came during what Semanario Zeta described as a broader spike in violent executions across Tecate in recent weeks. The Pueblo Mágico designation, a federal tourism label meant to attract visitors to culturally significant small towns, sits in sharp contrast to the body count.
Tecate, located about 30 miles east of Tijuana along the U.S. border, is home to roughly 110,000 residents. The town is known among visitors for its craft breweries, the Tecate border crossing into California, and rural ranches in the surrounding hills. It also ranked 23rd on a recent list of Mexico’s 50 most violent municipalities, compiled by national security analysts.
Pattern of Cartel-Linked Violence
The weekend bloodshed follows a pattern of cartel-related incidents in Tecate. Baja California’s FGE (Fiscalía General del Estado, the state attorney general’s office) recently linked a wave of sick leave among Tecate municipal police officers to suspected cartel infiltration of the force. A wounded FGR (Fiscalía General de la República, the federal attorney general’s office) agent who was shot in Tecate in March died this week from his injuries.
In August 2023, four decapitated bodies were found inside a car near Tecate. The state attorney general at the time attributed those killings to “antagonistic attacks between rival drug cartels.”
Mayor’s Response Draws Scrutiny
Cota’s dismissal of the security crisis drew immediate attention from local media. His claim that Tecate is safe came on the same day reporters were documenting the aftermath of seven killings, a toll that would be extraordinary for a city of Tecate’s size even spread across a month.
The mayor offered no details about arrests, suspects, or any new security measures in response to the spike. He did not address the cartel infiltration allegations involving his own police department.
For those who cross the border at Tecate or visit its wineries and breweries, the gap between the mayor’s assurances and the documented violence is worth noting. The Tecate crossing is a popular alternative to the congested San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry for travelers heading to and from San Diego County.
This story is based on reporting by Semanario Zeta.