Mexico Violence - Baja next?

[funmilton]

"Baja is safer than most cities in the US" quote.....

True that for the Mission, more death between 16th and 24th than all of Baja Sur. But yet I still wonder around drunk looking for Al Pastor. It's all good, but LMG is right keep a low profile. There are many shake downs, just keep a cool head and ride another day.

[funmilton]

Gnukid - nice post. Mi papa es Guatamalteco, very familiar with the US corruption in Central America. Bitter fruit.

[kitenaked]

I bet there is alot of shit that makes it's way through Baja because it is out of the spot light!

[funmilton]

All the drugs go up the Caribbean coast, much shorter route. You can go from Honduras over Guatemala and thru Belize in short order. Been there many times. No DEA until Progresso in southern Mexico. Pacific side is hard to run product up, they just don't go that way. I believe Baja is the least effected, but that does not make it safe.

[Greg]

I just read a report about the lone survivor of the 72 person murder...
That artical said many immigrants are kidnapped and there families in America are extorted for the ransom money...
They said they plant people in the shelters to spy and find out who has connections in the states... then kidnap them-, they murder them-, they make them run drugs-, they make them work to produce drugs..
I heard a story of workers forced to grow pot in the Ca. mountains while there loved ones where held captive in Mexico..

Point I'm making is you don't want to become caught up in this mess-

[stone]

Ya know, none of this scary talk is gonna stop me from booking my trip to La Ventana when the kiting jones hits in, oh, about november. There's scarier shit going on in Antioch every day--please car don't break down on me in Antioch on my way to Sherman.

[maxsteamer]

Holy CRAP!!!!," :shock: "

I have talked with a lot of gang members when I worked for the "State parks system" and a lot of them are kids that have no family, home to go to, and no food to eat... Now if you get hungry? you will do just about anything to fill your belly.. most of these little kids are in a trap and can't find work because they have no address to put on paper, Now a guy comes up and yells out of a limo, hey dude wanta make some money?? Now my sisters kid told me these guys all have nice cars and lots of cash and after you become a member you are now family, and that means a place to call home if you join there gang.

This all starts with grade school kids, as these guys know who to target..To kids it is bad news if you are not a part of a gang? and they are to young to know better..so they take the steps to a part of a group..most of the time it starts with pot then after some time they break out the crack, and then if you don't do what they say? you will be cut off and kicked out.. the hook is?.. they come back because they need a fix..My sisters kid is no dummy because his dad is a SF Cop he learned to be a what he says they call a "Copboy" and these boys have a gang of there own..Gnukid is right on this issue,if the drugs were free there would be no way to fund the gangs.

Max be with you " " Give the kid a kite " :dance: "

[EvanOR]

the Government and institutions are your servants and you control them by your decisions about what you buy and whether you give them power or not.

Paul, I'm glad to read that I'm not the only person who hasn't forgotten this - too bad the general populace has, including our public servants themselves - cops, customs officials, bureaucrats - you name it. These people need constant reminders that they have a duty to serve us - not the other way around.

In my experience Baja is very safe, and I have not noticed any significant changes over the years. I find it odd that people are concerned with Mexico, while at the same time, Americans seem content with the level of gun violence and death in their own country.

[kitenaked]

Evan, there is alot of crap happening in our own backyards as well (Canada too), this is without question, though I do feel safe here.

The whole thread was to point out the brutality that is happening and raise awareness.

Baja does seem innocent and it has a fresh and soul cleansing feel (and dusty).

It is not innocent.

Maybe to a group of us hanging on the beach playing like kids in the water and wind it makes it seem otherwise.

[gnukid]

Official Corruption is on both sides on the border

http://www.counterpunch.org/lendman06112008.html

http://staringfrog.com/legalnews/2010/0 ... h-is-king/

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 58f06.html

http://www.securitycornermexico.com/ind ... temid=1223

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,280873,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/us/27 ... html?fta=y

http://www.examiner.com/la-in-los-angel ... es-corrupt

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... rity_x.htm

http://lawenforcementcorruption.blogspo ... ce-on.html

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases ... ewyork.htm

http://bigjournalism.com/mfrazier/2010/ ... -part-two/

http://elpaso.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/press ... 042108.htm