State security forces arrested José Paulino, 29, in Tijuana’s Colonia Chihuahua after identifying him as the leader of a criminal cell operating in the neighborhood. Officers from the Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana (FESC), Baja California’s state security force, seized four long guns, one handgun, 88 rounds of ammunition, three magazines, two tactical vests, and roughly 100 grams of suspected methamphetamine during the operation.
The most striking item recovered was a counterfeit badge from the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), the state’s criminal investigation agency. Carrying a forged law enforcement credential is a known tactic used by cartel operatives in Tijuana to impersonate investigators at roadblocks, extort civilians, or gain access to restricted areas.
Outstanding Homicide Warrant From 2020
Authorities confirmed that José Paulino, originally from the state of Jalisco, had an active arrest warrant for aggravated homicide issued in 2020. The warrant stems from a killing that took place in 2017. The three-year gap between the crime and the warrant, followed by another six years before his capture, points to how long fugitives can evade justice across Mexican state lines.
The volume of weapons recovered, including four rifles, sets this arrest apart from a routine street-level drug bust. Combined with the fake AEI badge, the seizure paints a picture of a mid-tier operative equipped with both firepower and a cover story for moving freely through the city.
Dual Prosecution on Federal and State Charges
José Paulino now faces proceedings in two jurisdictions. Federal prosecutors at the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) have taken custody on weapons charges, which fall under federal law in Mexico. Separately, the Baja California state prosecutor’s office, the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), will present him before a judge on the outstanding aggravated homicide warrant.
Tijuana’s criminal landscape has grown increasingly fragmented in recent years. A February 2026 U.S. Department of Justice indictment named René Arzate-García, known as “La Rana,” as the Sinaloa Cartel’s alleged Tijuana plaza boss, charging him with narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. Multiple cartels continue to compete for control of trafficking corridors in Baja California, and smaller cells like the one José Paulino allegedly ran are a common feature of that competition.
Residents and visitors in Tijuana should know that legitimate state investigators carry official identification and typically operate in marked vehicles or arrive with uniformed backup. Anyone stopped by a person claiming law enforcement authority in an unmarked vehicle can request verification by calling Baja California’s 911 emergency line.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.