Baja California’s Local Search Commission (Comisión Local de Búsqueda) deployed boats, certified divers, drones, and specialized sonar technology at the Emilio López Zamora reservoir in Ensenada on June 17, scanning the body of water for evidence linked to missing persons cases.
Commission head Jorge Aguirre Carbajal led the aquatic operation, which brought together personnel from federal, state, and municipal agencies alongside civilian search collectives. The collectives are volunteer groups, typically organized by families of the disappeared, that conduct independent searches across Baja California.
Multi-Agency Operation at Ensenada Dam
The Emilio López Zamora reservoir sits in a canyon on the eastern edge of Ensenada, roughly five kilometers from the city center. It serves as both a flood control structure and a local landmark familiar to residents. Teams used the specialized equipment to identify what authorities called “points of interest” beneath the water’s surface, though no confirmed findings had been announced at the time of the report.
The operation is part of a broader state push to expand search capabilities for missing persons. Baja California consistently ranks among Mexico’s states with the highest rates of disappearances. According to Mexico’s National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons, the state has recorded thousands of active cases, with Tijuana and Ensenada accounting for a large share.
Civilian Collectives Join the Search
Family-led search collectives have become a driving force behind missing persons investigations in Baja California. These groups regularly pressure government agencies to conduct searches in specific locations, often based on anonymous tips or their own fieldwork. Their participation in the June 17 operation at the reservoir reflects an ongoing model of cooperation between civilian groups and state authorities.
The Ensenada region drew international attention in May 2024 after two Australian brothers and a San Diego resident disappeared during a surfing trip south of the city. Their bodies were later recovered from a remote area, and three suspects were arrested. That case intensified scrutiny of disappearances across the municipality.
Authorities did not specify how many missing persons cases are currently linked to the reservoir search or provide a timeline for follow-up operations.
The operation was first reported by Jornada BC.