Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Artisttyp]

First, for whatever reason, red light districts the world over tend to attract some really shitty people. That's a given.

Zona Norte is high crime for many good reasons. Damn near every deportee who gets out of a CA jail and is sent across the border at Tijuana winds up in the ZN. Some get jobs as meseros or barkers, others commit crime. Another part is the drugs. Not only do loads of stupid gringos show up looking to score, a very high percentage of the girls use drugs, too. Most of the cartel turf battles in Tijuana these days center around the "right" to sell drugs to the locals. Another part is that the ZN is chock full of gringos with pockets full of dollars. Ripe targets for ripoffs, clip joints (like HK) and even robbers. So, take your pick. It's a high crime area for a number of reasons.

I don't know if anybody has seriously suggested that the owners of HK / TB / MQ are mafia. But I understand they have reached an "accommodation" with the cartels and drugs are sold more or less openly in HK, as well as other bars.

HK management could not give a shit how customers are treated outside of the club. They don't give a shit how they're treated inside the club, why would the care once you leave? They are there to squeeze every dime out of you (and everybody else, not just gringos) that they can. If you don't like it, there are a gazillion other horned-up gringos behind you just begging for them to take their money.

I'm not sure why you think the proximity to the US border would have any effect on cartel / gang behavior.

Lastly, neither the cartels, nor the bar owners, nor anybody else in the ZN gives a fart in a windstorm about you, the customer. You're there to give them your money, and when the money is gone, you had better be, too. The cartels aren't actively harassing tourists. They make tons of money already, and causing serious harm to tourists will absolutely result in a whole lot of unwanted attention. The cops harass tourists, but the cops have been doing that since the Spaniards shook down the Incas. The cartels don't care what the cops do "on their own time," as it were. They just care that the cops do for them, the cartels, what the cops are paid to do.

Agree 100%.

[DramaFree11]

First, for whatever reason, red light districts the world over tend to attract some really shitty people. That's a given.

Zona Norte is high crime for many good reasons. Damn near every deportee who gets out of a CA jail and is sent across the border at Tijuana winds up in the ZN. Some get jobs as meseros or barkers, others commit crime. Another part is the drugs. Not only do loads of stupid gringos show up looking to score, a very high percentage of the girls use drugs, too. Most of the cartel turf battles in Tijuana these days center around the "right" to sell drugs to the locals. Another part is that the ZN is chock full of gringos with pockets full of dollars. Ripe targets for ripoffs, clip joints (like HK) and even robbers. So, take your pick. It's a high crime area for a number of reasons.

I don't know if anybody has seriously suggested that the owners of HK / TB / MQ are mafia. But I understand they have reached an "accommodation" with the cartels and drugs are sold more or less openly in HK, as well as other bars.

HK management could not give a shit how customers are treated outside of the club. They don't give a shit how they're treated inside the club, why would the care once you leave? They are there to squeeze every dime out of you (and everybody else, not just gringos) that they can. If you don't like it, there are a gazillion other horned-up gringos behind you just begging for them to take their money..

Sorry, I have to disagree with most of your post. I do not feel that I am ripped off at HK at all, in fact completely the opposite. You guys are always going to find something to complain about.

[LuvMexicanas]

Quit being so rational. Let fear and irrationality prevail. Anything that keeps one less pene from being in the mix works for me.

[Phordphan]

Good points all around Jackie.

Just curious though, you said Zone North is high crimes area. But why? You said drugs, but who is buying the drugs, locals? If prostitution is legal in those areas and the owners of Hong Kong, adels, etc. Are mafia with policia connections, why do they still shake down tourist / mongers like us? If anything, you would think the owners of Hong Kong would tell polica to leave their customers alone!

Also, if its gang crime, why are they committing these crimes in the Zone North, so close to US border. Why not bugger off somewhere else?

Me think these mafia / cartles would make more money if they agreed NOT to harass tourists in Zone North.

Just a thought.

First, for whatever reason, red light districts the world over tend to attract some really shitty people. That's a given.

Zona Norte is high crime for many good reasons. Damn near every deportee who gets out of a CA jail and is sent across the border at Tijuana winds up in the ZN. Some get jobs as meseros or barkers, others commit crime. Another part is the drugs. Not only do loads of stupid gringos show up looking to score, a very high percentage of the girls use drugs, too. Most of the cartel turf battles in Tijuana these days center around the "right" to sell drugs to the locals. Another part is that the ZN is chock full of gringos with pockets full of dollars. Ripe targets for ripoffs, clip joints (like HK) and even robbers. So, take your pick. It's a high crime area for a number of reasons.

I don't know if anybody has seriously suggested that the owners of HK / TB / MQ are mafia. But I understand they have reached an "accommodation" with the cartels and drugs are sold more or less openly in HK, as well as other bars.

HK management could not give a shit how customers are treated outside of the club. They don't give a shit how they're treated inside the club, why would the care once you leave? They are there to squeeze every dime out of you (and everybody else, not just gringos) that they can. If you don't like it, there are a gazillion other horned-up gringos behind you just begging for them to take their money.

I'm not sure why you think the proximity to the US border would have any effect on cartel / gang behavior.

Lastly, neither the cartels, nor the bar owners, nor anybody else in the ZN gives a fart in a windstorm about you, the customer. You're there to give them your money, and when the money is gone, you had better be, too. The cartels aren't actively harassing tourists. They make tons of money already, and causing serious harm to tourists will absolutely result in a whole lot of unwanted attention. The cops harass tourists, but the cops have been doing that since the Spaniards shook down the Incas. The cartels don't care what the cops do "on their own time," as it were. They just care that the cops do for them, the cartels, what the cops are paid to do.

[Dogers69]

Sounds like good times in tijuana. What a crazy wild wild west place. I bet I'd be bored to death in the rest of Mexico's cities. I miss Tijuana and it's only been week and a half. Been going to taco Tuesdays to drink tecate and pretend I'm in Tijuana.

[Jackie888]

Wow! I was in Hong Kong Wednesday evening, then I went to the Caesar's restaurant on Av. Revolucion and I came back to Hong Kong and I knew nothing about this shooting in the Zona Rio. Link here https://fox5sandiego.com/news/border...ed-in-tijuana/ Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (Border Report) Late Wednesday night, Tijuana Police Officers responded to a robbery in progress at a car lot in the Zona Rio of Tijuana.

A group of armed men had reportedly tied up employees and tried to steal money and some of the cars, but someone managed to call for help.

Officers responded in mass and the robbers took off. A chase ensued and then a shootout.

Even if he was a sicario rather than a drug lord, it's funny that he was caught stealing cars. Wonder if his sicario reputation took a hit after this. LOL.

[StRobert]

Wow! I was in Hong Kong Wednesday evening, then I went to the Caesar's restaurant on Av. Revolucion and I came back to Hong Kong and I knew nothing about this shooting in the Zona Rio. Link here https://fox5sandiego.com/news/border...ed-in-tijuana/ Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (Border Report) — Late Wednesday night, Tijuana Police Officers responded to a robbery in progress at a car lot in the Zona Rio of Tijuana.

A group of armed men had reportedly tied up employees and tried to steal money and some of the cars, but someone managed to call for help.

Officers responded in mass and the robbers took off. A chase ensued and then a shootout.

While the suspects were being apprehended, one of them stood out. It turned out to be Isidro "Chapito" Leal, considered to be one of Mexico's most notorious assassins and drug traffickers.

Leal had eluded arrest during another shootout a few years earlier and had been on the run ever since.

Mexico Federal Police says Leal has worked for the Sinaloa cartel and its infamous leader Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman.

Chapo is a nickname that at times is given to men who aren't very tall.

Leal is also said to have worked for the Arellano Felix cartel based in Tijuana.

Some news reports have stated Leal was a drug lord, but several journalists familiar with cartels in Mexico, say Leal was a well-known "sicario" or assassin as well as a drug smuggler, but not the head of any cartel.

One reporter who wanted to remain anonymous said, "if Leal was a drug lord, he would not have been out stealing cars. ".

Through Friday afternoon, Leal had been kept at the Federal Police headquarters in Tijuana not too far from the car lot he reportedly tried to rob.

At some point, Leal is expected to be flown to Mexico City, and then in the future, likely extradited to the United States.

[United1]

Good points all around Jackie.

Just curious though, you said Zone North is high crimes area. But why? You said drugs, but who is buying the drugs, locals? If prostitution is legal in those areas and the owners of Hong Kong, adels, etc. Are mafia with policia connections, why do they still shake down tourist / mongers like us? If anything, you would think the owners of Hong Kong would tell polica to leave their customers alone!

Also, if its gang crime, why are they committing these crimes in the Zone North, so close to US border. Why not bugger off somewhere else?

Me think these mafia / cartles would make more money if they agreed NOT to harass tourists in Zone North.

Just a thought.

I'm unsure that Mexican police can stop someone without a reason. I think they still need some sort of reasonable suspicion of a crime is about to happen and you are a perp. But in a high crime area like the Zona Norte, the standard is lowered allowing LEO to better police crime. It's no different than here in the USA. The police in Compton needs a far lesser reason to stop someone than the police in Beverly Hills.

Back to the Zona, I avoid where the street drug dealers do business. One can spot these guys because they are constantly yelling "quarter" throughout the night, often within sight of a paid off cop. If you were to talk to these guys or stand next to them, you will look like you are buying drugs. It means two things to a cop. He has cause to lawfully stop and search you, and you are carrying a decent amount of cash for drugs.

Therefore avoid these drug-dealers if you want to avoid a shakedown. BTW these drug dealers operate out of a specific location / hotel. They do wander all over. They stay in their territory so they are easily avoided.

Stay safe.

[Jackie888]

I'm unsure that Mexican police can stop someone without a reason. I think they still need some sort of reasonable suspicion of a crime is about to happen and you are a perp. But in a high crime area like the Zona Norte, the standard is lowered allowing LEO to better police crime. It's no different than here in the USA. The police in Compton needs a far lesser reason to stop someone than the police in Beverly Hills.

Back to the Zona, I avoid where the street drug dealers do business. One can spot these guys because they are constantly yelling "quarter" throughout the night, often within sight of a paid off cop. If you were to talk to these guys or stand next to them, you will look like you are buying drugs. It means two things to a cop. He has cause to lawfully stop and search you, and you are carrying a decent amount of cash for drugs.

Therefore avoid these drug-dealers if you want to avoid a shakedown. BTW these drug dealers operate out of a specific location / hotel. They do wander all over. They stay in their territory so they are easily avoided.

Stay safe.

[Sound7]

Day time only.

[Sound7]

What is going on?

[ScatManDoo]

I've seen crazy things happen in the alley, from people getting knocked out cold one punch, cops tazering naked man, a cop dragging a guy out of a bar and fighting him 10 feet from me while I was to drunk to take off so I stayed and watched. You always have the quientos guys, cops often grabbed me and pat me down when walking near them. You could end up with a chick who is having a bad moment in her life, and lies about $$, or says you hit her, a girl smacked me in head in hk last week. But, biggest concern, is drunks in bars looking for fights. I had a guy in hk last year tell me he wanted to cut my head off, after I had sat down next to him at the bar by front door. He said he was going to call his friends. I left for adelitas and another gringo said he had same problem with the guy. Few other times drunk gringos, have walked in bar, or just walked past me, seen me, and jumped in my face like they were ready to fight, or thought they knew me and were just acting crazy, one guy in hk last week was like 6'3 and just kept bouncing around slamming his fist I to his hand and acting like he wanted to fight me since the liquor does make some people want to fight. I have had a few woman friends who want to fight everyone after 2 beers. So yeah, eventually, if you keep going to bars particularly, in any country, you will probably see some stuff.

You really want to be sure to avoid going into Hong Kong Bar on the day of the month when all the bar chicas start their periods in sync.

[Dogers69]

At first, I'd think someone is paranoid to be worried about mexican lawers but its actually probably a good idea. If you get into a car accident you may need it. And if you keep going to mexico it's not far fetched to think something eventually can happen. I've seen crazy things happen in the alley, from people getting knocked out cold one punch, cops tazering naked man, a cop dragging a guy out of a bar and fighting him 10 feet from me while I was to drunk to take off so I stayed and watched. You always have the quientos guys, cops often grabbed me and pat me down when walking near them. You could end up with a chick who is having a bad moment in her life, and lies about $$, or says you hit her, a girl smacked me in head in hk last week. But, biggest concern, is drunks in bars looking for fights. I had a guy in hk last year tell me he wanted to cut my head off, after I had sat down next to him at the bar by front door. He said he was going to call his friends. I left for adelitas and another gringo said he had same problem with the guy. Few other times drunk gringos, have walked in bar, or just walked past me, seen me, and jumped in my face like they were ready to fight, or thought they knew me and were just acting crazy, one guy in hk last week was like 6'3 and just kept bouncing around slamming his fist I to his hand and acting like he wanted to fight me since the liquor does make some people want to fight. I have had a few woman friends who want to fight everyone after 2 beers. So yeah, eventually, if you keep going to bars particularly, in any country, you will probably see some stuff.

[Goyo61]

Thanks Baxter. I have heard that if your not doing something stupid that your chances of getting harassed is much less. But also heard of crazy shit happening to people but these are the exceptions. A Mexican guy at work got hauled to jail for having beer outside on the street. Now. Maybe he was drunk and a dick. Not sure but he did have to get bailed out of jail at 3 am.

Goyo.

The closest I ever came to a Tijuana jail was after the GF got in a bar fight and I went to bail her out. First I had to go to the zona norte station. Thats where she saw the judge and they charged her. I could have bailed her out there, but the cops said I would be better off waiting until she got transfered to the main jail. They explained she spit at the judge and if I bailed her out there it would cost a lot more than waiting.

I went over to the main jail on Via Rapido and waited and waited about an hour and a half. She was finally brought there once she was there it did not take long at all to get her out. It cost around $75. I just don't remember if they let her keep her cell phone on her, but I'm guessing not since I had tried to reach her and there was no answer.

[Baxter Slade]

The closest I ever came to a Tijuana jail was after the GF got in a bar fight and I went to bail her out. First I had to go to the zona norte station. Thats where she saw the judge and they charged her. I could have bailed her out there, but the cops said I would be better off waiting until she got transfered to the main jail. They explained she spit at the judge and if I bailed her out there it would cost a lot more than waiting.

I went over to the main jail on Via Rapido and waited and waited about an hour and a half. She was finally brought there once she was there it did not take long at all to get her out. It cost around $75. I just don't remember if they let her keep her cell phone on her, but I'm guessing not since I had tried to reach her and there was no answer.