Two Tecate police officers arrested for alleged ties to CJNG cartel

The Baja California state attorney general, María Elena Andrade Ramírez, announced the detention of two municipal police officers from Tecate on suspicion of actively collaborating with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Investigators say the officers acted as a “forward” for the cartel, warning criminal members about police raids and sharing confidential information via messages. Their alleged involvement was uncovered after the capture of five cartel hit‑men linked to recent homicides in the municipality.

Authorities indicated that three additional officers are under investigation for possible connections to the CJNG, and a third suspect’s residence has been surrounded. Tecate Mayor Román Cota Muñoz said the arrests resulted from a comprehensive control and confidence test of all police personnel conducted in January 2025 and warned that further purges may follow to remove compromised members from the force.