Police responded to reports of approximately 15 gunshots and a narcomanta (cartel threat banner) in the Felipe Carrillo area of Valle de Guadalupe early Sunday morning, April 19. The incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. near Block 18 of the zone, according to a police report cited by Zeta Tijuana.
No injuries or deaths were reported in connection with the incident. Authorities have not released details about the content of the banner or identified any suspects. A narcomanta is a written threat message typically left by criminal organizations to mark territory, intimidate rivals, or send warnings.
Wine Country Security Concerns
Valle de Guadalupe sits about 20 miles northeast of downtown Ensenada along Highway 3. The area is Baja California’s premier wine region, home to more than 150 wineries, dozens of restaurants, and a growing number of boutique hotels. Thousands of visitors from San Diego and across Southern California travel there on weekends.
The Felipe Carrillo area is a residential and agricultural zone within the broader Valle de Guadalupe community. It sits apart from the main tourist corridor where most wineries and restaurants operate. The pre-dawn timing of the incident, at 4:00 a.m. on a Sunday, placed it well outside normal visiting hours.
A Pattern in the Ensenada Region
The Ensenada municipality has experienced periodic security incidents linked to organized crime. In May 2023, a shootout at an off-road rally in the San Vicente area south of Ensenada killed 10 people and wounded 10 others. Narco banners were found at multiple locations around the municipality in the days following that attack. Three suspects were later arrested in connection with the violence.
Extortion of businesses in Valle de Guadalupe has also been a documented concern. Baja California state lawmakers have previously raised the issue publicly, noting that local business owners have reported paying extortion fees.
No official statement from the Baja California Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE, the state attorney general’s office) or municipal police had been released regarding the April 19 incident at the time of publication. This story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.