Mexican Army troops arrested five people and confiscated firearms, drugs, and vehicles during operations across three northern Baja California municipalities between May 29 and June 1, the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) reported.
The operations took place in Mexicali, Ensenada, and San Quintín. Soldiers seized three firearms, four magazines, and 243 rounds of ammunition. They also recovered 49 kilograms (about 108 pounds) of marijuana, 61 doses of methamphetamine, and two vehicles.
All five detainees and the seized materials were turned over to Attorney General’s offices in each respective city for investigation.
Operations Span Key Northern Baja Corridors
The three municipalities where arrests occurred span a wide stretch of Baja California’s Pacific and border regions. Mexicali sits on the U.S. border across from Calexico, California, and serves as the state capital. Ensenada, about 80 miles south of Tijuana on the Pacific coast, is a popular destination for wine country visitors and cruise passengers. San Quintín lies roughly 120 miles farther south along the Transpeninsular Highway (Highway 1), a major route for travelers heading deeper into the peninsula.
The sweep is part of ongoing military surveillance operations throughout northern Baja California. The Mexican army maintains regular patrols in the region in response to organized crime activity, particularly along border corridors used for cross-border drug trafficking.
Broader Security Context in Baja California
The arrests come during a period of heightened military operations across Mexico’s northern border states. Earlier this year, the Mexican government launched Operation Northern Border, deploying 10,000 military and National Guard personnel. By early April, that operation had led to thousands of arrests nationwide and the seizure of more than 1,900 weapons and 25 tonnes of drugs, according to data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).
Baja California has been a focal point in that effort. Clashes between armed groups in Tijuana increased 16% between late July 2024 and March 2025, compared to the prior eight months, as the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) compete for control of cross-border trafficking routes.
The latest arrests in Mexicali, Ensenada, and San Quintín were first reported by Jornada BC.