MEXICALI – The Fiscalia General del Estado announced record Baja California drug seizures for 2025, including 41 tons of methamphetamine, 23 tons of marijuana, 5 tons of cocaine, 182 kilograms of fentanyl, and 166 kilograms of heroin confiscated statewide. Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda highlighted the methamphetamine haul in particular, saying it dealt cartels an estimated $640 million blow based on U.S. street value calculations provided by Mexico’s Defense Ministry (SEDENA).
Baja California Drug Seizures Break Records
The seizures represent a 382% increase in methamphetamine interdiction compared to the same period in 2024, according to SEDENA figures. Authorities also dismantled nine clandestine drug laboratories during the year, including one discovered south of Ensenada in early 2026 and another in the agricultural outskirts of San Quintín. The labs were producing methamphetamine for shipment through the Otay Mesa and Tecate border crossings, where CBP officers made corresponding seizures on the U.S. side.
The record numbers come amid a broader decline in violent crime across Baja California, with homicides dropping 44% over the governor’s four-year term. Law enforcement officials credit an intelligence-driven strategy that targets cartel logistics networks rather than relying solely on street-level enforcement. Joint operations with the Mexican Navy, National Guard, and SEDENA have focused on the Tijuana-Rosarito corridor and the Mexicali valley, where agricultural properties have been used to conceal production facilities.
For English-speaking residents and visitors in Baja California, the intensified enforcement has produced more frequent military and police checkpoints on Highway 1 between Tijuana and Ensenada and on Highway 5 south of Mexicali. These checkpoints typically involve a brief vehicle inspection and are routine. The U.S. State Department continues to assess Baja California at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), noting that while cartel activity exists, it rarely targets tourists or foreign residents.