The Arzate Brothers Are Behind the Ranch Raids

Heavily armed squads from the Sinaloa Cartel have sown terror among ranch owners located in the Valle de las Palmas district within the municipality of Tecate. This criminal onslaught is being orchestrated from Tijuana.

In one instance, a ranch owner was murdered; in another robbery, a resident was shot inside her family home in El Testerazo. The woman is an employee of the Regional Office of the Attorney General.

The attacks, identified by state security agencies, began on January 8, 2026; however, the first arrests weren’t reported until March 18.

Over a two-month period, these criminal groups have employed the same *modus operandi* at at least five ranches: typically, in the early hours of the morning, they violently force their way onto the properties—battering down doors in the process—subdue residents and owners by binding their hands and feet, physically assault them, and steal their belongings—primarily pickup trucks.

MINISTERIAL AIDE INJURED; COUSIN-IN-LAW DETAINED

The most recent attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, March 16, at 2:54 a.m. A woman reported via the emergency line that four hooded men dressed in black—who were in possession of long-barreled firearms—violently burst into her home in the village of El Testerazo, Tecate. They headed directly toward her daughter, shot her, and fled the scene, taking a pickup truck with them.

The caller was the mother of Karina, a 29-year-old woman who works as a Ministerial Aide at the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Ensenada—the same office from which the current Federal Prosecutor for Baja California, Teófila González Lozada, hails.

When questioned, her colleagues stated that they were unaware of the motive behind the attack. “She doesn’t have any enemies—seriously; she does good work,” they asserted. “She started doing her mandatory service there while she was still in school [in Tijuana]; afterward, she stayed on as an employee and was transferred to Ensenada.”

Authorities indicated that the injured young woman, her mother, and an aunt do not actually reside at the home where the attack took place, but had decided to spend the public holiday there.

According to surveillance camera footage, the subjects gained entry by kicking the door open. Witnesses reported that they shot the young woman, and the cameras captured the criminals as they exited, at which point they attempted to break into a vehicle—a 2024 Kia ​​belonging to the young woman—that was parked at the garage entrance.

At various points, four men—dressed in dark clothing and wearing baseball caps, with improvised cloths covering the lower halves of their faces—were captured on camera. They moved quickly, yet their search appeared clumsy; they circled the car and tugged at its doors for over two and a half minutes without success, all while shouting instructions to one another and pointing their long guns toward the exterior of the house. They moved in and out of the yard, where a white pickup truck was waiting for them outside.

At approximately the 2:45 mark of the video, the criminals can be seen having successfully broken into another vehicle belonging to the victims—a 2014 Ram pickup located deeper within the yard. Using this vehicle, they pushed the Kia through the property’s perimeter fence; they then abandoned the young woman’s car at the entrance and stole the Ram pickup.

Emergency services reported that Karina sustained four wounds to her side and back—potentially consisting of two entry wounds and two exit wounds—in addition to other gunshot injuries to her arm, one near her eye, and a final one to her neck; all injuries were located on the left side of her body. She was admitted to Clinic 6 in Tecate under a “code red” status (indicating critical condition) but was subsequently reported to be in stable condition. Five .223 caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene.

The FGR (Attorney General’s Office) formally requested and assumed jurisdiction over the investigation—which had initially been opened by state authorities as an attempted homicide case. Authorities conducted a sweep of the area but were unable to locate either the criminals’ vehicle or the stolen pickup truck. On the afternoon of March 18—following up on the case involving the FGR employee and acting on information gathered during one of the other raids—the FESC reported the apprehension, following a pursuit in the Testerazo area at 3:00 a.m. that Wednesday, of: Esmeralda “N,” 27, a native of Pachuca, Hidalgo; Venancio “N,” 31; and Francisco Daniel “N,” 41—the latter two both natives of Tecate. The last individual mentioned is the alleged cousin-in-law of the injured young woman, “who may have suggested her as a target.”

“According to intelligence analysis, the captured individuals may be linked to the attack on an FGR auxiliary agent that took place on March 16 in this same area,” the agency stated in its press release.

During the search, authorities seized a pistol-type firearm with a loaded magazine, along with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and another 14 rounds of .223 caliber; they also confiscated a small container holding a substance with characteristics similar to fentanyl, and two bags containing a granular substance resembling methamphetamine.

CDS ASSAILANTS 

According to intelligence data provided to *ZETA* by authorities at the Baja California Peace and Security Coordination Roundtable, the alleged perpetrators are criminals in the employ of brothers René and Alfonso Arzate—operatives for the *Mayos* faction and priority targets for the U.S. government, which has publicly offered a $5 million reward for their capture.

In Tijuana, the group is coordinated by Franklin Ernesto Huezo Hernández, alias “El Ranchero”; on the street level, those responsible for coordinating and directing the attacks are Genaro Ramos Mora—alias “El 300,” “El Barbas,” and “El Goku”—who moves between Tijuana and Tecate; and Óscar, alias “El Caborca”—apparently surnamed Ontiveros—a resident of the Tecate Valley who supplies the criminal group with intelligence regarding potential attack sites within the *Pueblo Mágico* (Magic Town).

“He knows when families are spending the weekend in the town; he identifies them—whether they have money or not—notes what time they leave, and tracks which vehicles they use,” stated a member of the criminal cell who was captured in eastern Tijuana in possession of firearms and a pickup truck belonging to one of the victims.

Esmeralda “N,” Venancio “N,” and Francisco Daniel “N”—detained on March 18 by the FESC (State Security Force)—have been identified as members of “El Caborca’s” criminal network.

These CDS (Sinaloa Cartel) criminals are currently engaged in a conflict with individuals who defected to the CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel) in December—their former criminal accomplices: Salomón Barragán (alias “El Salo”), Oscar López (alias “El Chicho”), and José Ángel Flores (alias “El Siete”).

Upon consulting the local prosecutor’s office, it was confirmed that this intelligence information hasn’t yet resulted in any arrest warrants. Consequently, the affected citizens remain at the mercy of the criminals.

According to investigators, these crimes are considered “baffling,” as authorities have yet to identify a motive. Furthermore, the victims haven’t reported receiving any threats, extortion demands, or specific requests of any kind. Thus far, the objective appears to be “the theft of cash and valuables—such as jewelry—though the primary goal has been to seize the pickup trucks owned by the residents.”

**A DISPUTE OVER THE ROUTE**

What law enforcement agencies are certain of is that these robberies are being committed at ranches situated in the crossfire of a turf war between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS). This conflict centers on a drug-trafficking route that runs from the area known as Valle de San Pedro in Tijuana to Valle de las Palmas in Tecate; it then passes through Valle de la Trinidad in Ensenada before terminating in San Felipe—a municipality currently under the criminal control of “Los Chapitos,” a Sinaloa-based faction currently at odds with “Los Mayos.”

Recent police records indicate that, so far in 2026, the Valle de las Palmas district—a rural sector of Tecate that serves as a nexus connecting three municipalities and facilitating the movement of drugs, weapons, and cash while bypassing urban surveillance zones—has become the scene of direct attacks against residents of long-established ranches (some dating back over 50 years). Among the victims are U.S. citizens who typically visit their properties on weekends before returning to their daily lives in the neighboring country.

“There are unofficial reports—which are currently under investigation—alleging that, within Tecate, cartels have been raiding ranches, issuing death threats against the owners, and coercing them into abandoning their properties and signing over legal documents.” “The matter was still under review when reports of break-ins and robberies at ranches began to surface—some of which were never even officially reported, yet were flagged as a warning sign—particularly after March 8, when one of the victims was murdered,” explained an investigator from the Security Roundtable.

THE BREAK-IN AT RANCHO GILBERT

In the early hours of Thursday, March 5, a 70-year-old woman looked out her window and saw a line of pickup trucks—the exact number was not reported—emerging on the horizon, kicking up clouds of dust. Before they even arrived, she realized they didn’t belong to her neighbors or friends, as she knew their vehicles well. It was two o’clock in the morning, and the wind carried not the scent of dry oak, but the metallic roar of engines that didn’t belong in the area.

Near the main house, the unidentified men traveling in the pickup trucks disembarked, clad in tactical gear and carrying long guns.

Given their evident proficiency—combined with the spate of attacks recorded in the area over the previous two months against the ranches of long-established families (attacks of which the community was well aware, even if they went officially unreported)—she decided to go into hiding. She concealed herself as the strangers exited their vehicles and stormed through every section of the Gilbert family property, where she—the elderly woman—was the sole occupant.

From her hiding place, she watched them scour the entire estate; they turned everything upside down, yet, as she later recounted, they did not appear to be searching for anything in particular. They were armed with long guns—resembling .223-caliber rifles—and as the minutes ticked by, the woman’s fear intensified.

The criminals, who appeared unable to find what they were looking for, decided to take advantage of the home invasion to relax; the armed men ate, drank, and rested without any fear of being caught inside the property. They moved through the house as if they knew it well, the victim recounted.

Eventually, they left, and the woman was able to tell the story of how she survived.

DEATH AT RANCHO ESTRADA

Unfortunately, Mr. Jesús Teodoro Estrada did not share the same luck; his ranch was attacked in the early hours of March 2, 2026, and he was killed during the assault.

While seizing control of the property, the criminals fired shots at the residence, and one of the .223-caliber bullets pierced the owner’s neck; he collapsed dead right before his wife’s eyes.

The criminals then stormed into the home, stole a number of personal belongings, and fled the scene in his gray 2000 Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup truck, bearing license plates AN-8317-A.

The truck was located 11 days later—on March 13—in a service alley within the Tanamá neighborhood, situated in the urban area of ​​Tecate, very close to the junction with the Tecate–Ensenada highway. The discovery resulted from a direct report made to the Center for Control, Command, Communication, and Computing (C5), alerting authorities to the presence of a suspicious vehicle.

The report was handled by the State Citizen Security Force (FESC), who confirmed that the vehicle in question was indeed the same one reported stolen during the crime committed against Mr. Estrada in Valle de las Palmas on March 2.

Inside the stolen vehicle, authorities seized a Barrett long-range firearm—equipped with a bipod and telescopic sight, and loaded with 9 live rounds—as well as a second long-range firearm with a magazine loaded with 30 live .223-caliber rounds. One long firearm fitted with a magazine loaded with 60 live 7.62×39 caliber rounds; and one 7.62×39 caliber firearm fitted with a drum magazine loaded with 60 live rounds.

As well as: another long firearm fitted with a sling, with a magazine loaded with 30 live rounds; one 7.62×39 caliber firearm with a magazine loaded with 30 live rounds; one 7.62×39 caliber firearm with a magazine loaded with 30 live rounds; four magazines loaded with 20 live .223 caliber rounds; two magazines containing 30 and 29 live rounds, respectively; one magazine loaded with 30 live rounds of unspecified caliber; one magazine loaded with 30 live 7.62×39 caliber rounds; six empty magazines; one magazine loaded with 10 live 9×19 caliber rounds; two magazines loaded with 30 live rounds; 64 loose live 9×19 caliber rounds; three tactical vests bearing the inscription “F.E. 300”; three tactical vests bearing the inscription “CONDOR”; and 12 ballistic plates.

All weaponry was placed at the disposal of the FGR (Attorney General’s Office).

Furthermore, authorities seized bulletproof vests inscribed with the message “F.E. 300,” which—according to officials—alludes to an armed group engaged in criminal activity under the command of Genaro Ramos. This group serves as the armed wing operating in eastern Tijuana and seeks to seize control of one of the primary routes and most critical access points for trafficking between Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada: the rural district of Valle de las Palmas.

Despite the discovery of the vehicle belonging to the late Jesús Estrada—as well as the weapons found inside it—authorities, when questioned, have reported no progress in the investigation into Estrada’s death. Nor have they reported whether the seized weapons were used in any of the crimes in the area, or if any are linked to the rancher’s death.

ROBBERY AT RANCHO HERNÁNDEZ

Ten days after the murder of Estrada—on Thursday, March 12—a criminal group attacked another ranch. The property in question belongs to the Díaz Brothers; the intruders broke in, brandishing long guns at the occupants, whom they then bound, beat, and terrorized until a passerby heard their cries for help and dialed the emergency number, 911.

Nearly 30 minutes after the emergency call was placed, authorities arrived at the scene. Fortunately, the family was still alive, although the criminals had already fled, taking with them various valuables and cash.

When interviewed, residents of the community described the victimized family as “decent people”—quiet, and with no history of trouble.

RED PICKUP STOLEN FROM RANCHO LÓPEZ

This wave of criminal activity dates back to January. On Thursday the 8th of that month, armed individuals stole a red pickup truck from inside Rancho López—a vehicle that, to date, hasn’t been recovered.

Owners of ranches neighboring Valle de Las Palmas, Tecate, warn that if authorities continue to fail to intervene as they have thus far, they will begin to take justice into their own hands. “It comes down to survival—to protecting our families and our lives,” stated one of the property owners. “If the authorities won’t do anything, then we have to do it ourselves.”

Source: Zeta Tijuana