A little update on this incident. After an investigation, my bank determined that funds were removed from my account without authorization and refunded the money. I now carry a Mexican prescription for Viagra in my car at all times. The police that did this are still out there, for fear of retaliation I have not filed a report with the Tijuana D.A.

I had a close call with these same police the other night, I was driving east on Coahuila on my way back to the border, they were on the same street going the opposite way. As they passed me they gave me a good stare down, then made a U-turn to follow me. I made sure that I used signals, made full stops at stop signs, did not turn on red lights, being extremely meticulous as I knew these guys were looking for any reason to attempt to extort money from me again. After following me to around 3rd and Madero, they sped away, apparently catching on to the fact that I would not be slipping up with them behind me.

The car number they were driving the first time they robbed me was 1190, this time I think it was 1181 but I am not totally sure. I urge you to avoid these guys at all costs. The main one is about 5'10" or so and about 240 lbs, has gold front teeth. One of the other ones wears a military style haircut, about 5'9" and 160 lbs, and I have seen him wear a thigh holster, with pants tucked into his combat boots. I don't quite remember how the other two looked, but I could identify them on sight. Regardless, they should all die of gonorrhea and rot in hell. Either that or get shot in the face with a .50AE hollow point. That's just my opinion though. They probably deserve to die much more terrible deaths.

After this close call, I asked the customs guy at the border what would happen if they tried to pull me over and I just ran from them. He said that they would most likely attempt to kill me, and that it has happened before. He advised me the best way to avoid this would be to stop going to Mexico. To this I replied "either that, or get a bulletproof car." He did say that if I was able to make it to the line alive, that they would provide protection.

I guess a bulletproof car is what it will have to be.

-Mr416

Mr 416 FYI there have been no documented reports of retaliation for reporting police misconduct. In fact as your experience proves you have set yourself up as a mark and if they remember you it's just a matter of time until you get ripped off again.

The idiots at the Consulate evidently didn't bother to tell you about other remedies short of filing a complaint with the Tijuana District Attorney. You can complain to the tourist bureau and also file a complaint with the Sindicatura at City Hall. The Sindicatura is an independent agency that investigates official corruption.

Rey,

Could it be there is no documentation because the level of corruption is so high that any incidents were covered up?

Or is that reaching?

On a sort of related note, I once overheard a Border Patrol (or maybe Customs) guy giving advice on what to do if you are being chased by a TJ cop and are in fear of serious harm. This would seem to apply ONLY IF you are certain you can make it to the border and it is not rush hour where there is a big backup in all lanes. He said to drive as fast as you can right up to one of the closed gates. You are now in U.S. territory, and they will not just hand you over to the Mexican cops. Of course, if the cops really think you did something and follow you the whole way, you will be detained by the U.S. authorities and an investigation will insue.

Sounds like you are saying that nobody reports incidents that happened in retaliation for them making a report for something else. According to you, there are two possibilities:

1) People file reports, and are retaliated against, but don't report the retaliation.
2) People file reports, and are not retaliated against.

Do you really think that they have never retaliated?

By the way, I saw one of them tonight, the second one I described. He lost the tactical thigh holster, but I did notice that he wears his bulletproof vest over his polo shirt.

On running from them, the only thing I worry about is that their bullets can travel faster than my car. I would just have to hope that they are not very good shots.

-Mr416

Dont drive in TJ and you dont have the problem

694me has a good point. Why drive in TJ?? I can't think of any compelling reason to HAVE to drive across the boarder every time you visit La Zona.

Okay, so you spend a few extra bucks on taxi service. Isn't that worth avoiding the hassles you're dealing with now???


StrikeEagle

If you go beyond the Zona Norte area on a frequent basis, taxis become expensive and/or a hassle.

Try the collective taxis. One of our mongers has an excel ss on transportation. You can go almost anywhere for $1 and 10 min walk.

Strikeeagle,
Despite the fact that I have had a car broken in to and three years later I had that same car stolen I still drive my replacement my car to Tijuana.

I don't drive it to the zona, but simply walk to the zona from the Villa Zaragoza; however, I use my car to go to Rosarito, Ensenada, and the bull arena by the Playas. Sometimes my amiga and I go to the dog races at Caliente Race Track and possibly next weekend we will go to the fair.

Red asks "Could it be there is no documentation because the level of corruption is so high that any incidents were covered up?

Or is that reaching? "

I think it is. You think the U.S. Consulate and the San Diego Tribune are in on it too?

As for the Tijuana residents they wouldn't be shy about going to Zeta the weekly muckraking paper.

Reytj, I really admire the courage of the people who own, edit and write Zeta. They unflinchingly campaign against corrupt cops, officials and the drug mobsters on a regular basis. What tangible or intangible force is keeping these Zetans safe and publishing with regularity?

The Zeta is published in san diego ever since the murder of felix el gato

¿Who was felix the cat?

Erip asks "What tangible or intangible force is keeping these Zetans safe and publishing with regularity?"

Well, Jesus Blancornelas, the owner, publisher and editor of Zeta narrowly survived an assasination attempt by the Arellano Cartel in Tijuana about 1 1/2 years ago.

X-Zeta began to publish out of SD before the murder of Felix El Gato. The reason was to avoid possible censurship since at one point the Mexican government had a monopoly on the supply of newsprint.

Reytj, x...thanks for the explanations. Yet you would still think the corrupt and criminal powers would be menacing the channels of distribution in Baja - the paper is all over the place. Plus the reporters have to be covering their beats inside of Baja itself. It says something I think about there being a decent level of respect and protection for free press in Mexico...more than one might expect in an institutionally corrupt developing nation.

Eunuch,

I thought I would take a minute to answer your question.

Hector Felix Miranda was a co-founder and associate director of the Mexican investigative weekly publication known as Zeta. He was gunned down in his car 13 years ago by gunmen who apparently were on the payroll of TJs Caliente Racetrack, which is owned by the family of Jorge Hank Rhon. Hank had become very good friends with El Gato until at some point they had a falling out of sorts and Felix began writing some negative things about Hank, whose Father BTW is one of the weathiest and most powerful in all of Mexico.

Felix's partner, Zeta co-founder Jesus Blancornelas, was shot down just 5 months before Felix's assasination on Thanksgiving 1987, but he survived. That attempt was apparently executed by that somewhat well known F/A drug cartel.

(I'm not sure if that's a typo in Reytj's post above about 1 1/2 years ago ?)

Well, hope that does it for you.

Thanks amigo.

If you are going very far, the collectivos can take a VERY long time to reach your destination. For example, 5 y 10 in La Mesa takes 10 minutes from the border by the fast route, 45 minutes by collectivo. They are also hot and crowded, although not as badly as some of the buses, but they will get you within a few blocks of almost anywhere. It is a trade-off, and for some people it might be worth it.

Is the Zeta publication available online for those of us with wanderlust who would like to stay in touch ?

Yes the url is www.zetatijuana.com/

Mine was a typo. I meant to type 3 and a 1/2 years ago ie Thanksgiving 97. Was yours a typo Thanksgiving 87?

Yes that was a typo on my part also and it occured when I was initially and hastily collecting the info to post that answer to my own question. Thanks for the heads-up on the heads-up. I'm happy that is straight because it may become useful on a future game show appearance.
( )

This line six posts above: "5 months before...on Thanksgiving 1987"

Should actually be: "...was shot down more recently, on Thanksgiving day 1997."

hey hippie

those collectivos can take years to arrive at certian destinations

i took one from plaza carasoul to rev and it took forever and in the process i lost about 10 pounds.

it is worse than a sauna - like 120 degrees

but for the locals it is one of the best ways to travel and cheapest besides the bus

milkmiester

Robbed by a cop in TJ. Went down for my second tj trip a week ago and had a forgettable 20 minutes with a street girl. Had a nice dinner then a girl in AD. Walked to revolution and went looking for some water (don't drink alcohol) and ATM's. Went to Gigante grocery store and was in the parking lot drinking it when two cops came up (one on a bike).

Stayed very calm but they asked me to empty my pockets. The fat cop emptied my front pocket and took out my cash (about $30 in various demoninations) and I watched closely as he went through it. I speak little Spanish but was confident because I wasn't drunk and didn't do anythng wrong.

He handed back the cash and eyed a half-Viagra he found in with the cash. Then he started picking at it and chipping away at the blue coloring until it started looking like rock cocaine. I got kind of scared and recalled visions of the movie 'Midnight Express'. I'd been very calm but began yelling at him 'It's Viagra! What the fuck are you doing?!'

I'm a big guy and it scared them. I started to back him up (I would never do this to an armed cop in a dark parking lot in the US). He let me go.

The whole thing scared the shit out of me though. I don't do drugs and felt I was being set up for a 3rd-rate drug bust. Went back to Zona and picked up a very pretty, thin street girl (Alejandra $20). Paid for the room and took out my money and was $20 short! The cop had palmed the $20 and did it with me watching. I apologized to her and told her what happened. Gave her $5 for her trouble. Found an ATM and had her later and didn't have to pay for the room again.

All in all, a bad experience. I began noticing the bad smell of TJ and started feeling kind of sick to my stomach. Walked back to the border through a bad area and got kind of lost. I think I was looking for trouble. I think I need to visit Thailand. Does it smell there also?

The LoS has a smell like no other place in the world. (well, let me restate that. SEA has a smell like no other place in the world)

Spice, chili, garlic, fish, natural fertilizer, decomposing jungle vegetation, car and truck exhaust, factory exhaust, cooking fires, heat, humidity, Durian and a million other things mix into a unique aroma.

TJ is NOTHING like SEA. But, after a few hours, you will find that you no longer notice it.


Book your trip and let us all know how you like it!


StrikeEagle

To MrBonesJones:

So ya don't drink? Do you find this cuts down on, or improves upon, your experiences in TJ? I don't drink (much ... heh) either, and am wondering what it's gonna be like if I ever get to TJ. Comments here? A new thread / board section? Wuddever.

BG

Mrbonesjones,

Go to Thailand ASAP...