Security forces arrested three people and seized a firearm and a package of suspected narcotics during joint Operativo BOM patrols across Baja California Sur this week. The coordinated operation brought together the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), the State Preventive Police, and municipal forces from both La Paz and Los Cabos.
The most notable stop occurred on the La Paz to Los Cabos highway, where officers pulled over a Kia Sportage driven by an 18-year-old man. A search of the vehicle turned up a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. The driver was detained on the spot.
Warrant Arrests and Drug Seizure at Pichilingue
Two other suspects were picked up on active warrants during the same operation. One was arrested in Los Cabos on a robbery charge, while the other was detained on a domestic violence warrant. Authorities did not release the names or ages of the two warrant suspects.
Separately, officers at the secondary inspection module at Puerto Pichilingue, the ferry terminal in La Paz that connects to mainland Mexico, seized a package of what they described as apparent illicit substances. Pichilingue handles regular ferry traffic between La Paz and the ports of Topolobampo and Mazatlán in Sinaloa, making it a known checkpoint for contraband screening.
Operativo BOM and Broader Security Context
Operativo BOM is a recurring multi-agency security sweep in Baja California Sur that uses highway checkpoints, roving patrols, and port inspections to target weapons, drugs, and fugitives. The operation has been a fixture in the state’s security strategy, particularly along the roughly 180-kilometer corridor between La Paz and Los Cabos.
The arrests come as BCS remains under heightened security scrutiny. In April 2025, the U.S. Embassy and Canadian government both issued security alerts for Los Cabos and La Paz following a string of violent incidents, urging travelers to exercise increased caution. Federal authorities at the time reported seizing firearms and arresting multiple suspects tied to those events.
All three detainees and the seized evidence were turned over to the Baja California Sur state prosecutor’s office (FGE) for further investigation.
This story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.