The Baja California Attorney General’s Office (FGE) announced the arrest of three individuals allegedly linked to the murder of three men whose bodies were found bound and wrapped in plastic bags in Tijuana on August 11.

According to Attorney General María Elena Andrade, one of the suspects was identified as Álvaro “N,” alias El Santero, described as the main coordinator of the crime along with other accomplices.

Investigators revealed that the victims were held captive inside a property located on the old road to Tecate, in the Los Venados neighborhood of La Mesa, during the early hours of August 11. They were later killed, and their bodies were transported in a beige van before being abandoned on a public street.

Andrade noted that the suspects had only been in Baja California for a few months and came from states such as Mexico State with the intention of expanding their criminal operations in the region.

“This group, led by the man known as El Santero, sought to impose criminal control in Tijuana. They even practiced Santería rituals, as evidenced by Santa Muerte altars and containers with blood seized at the time of their arrest,” Andrade said.

Authorities stressed that the investigation remains ongoing as they work to identify additional members of the cell and prevent their efforts to establish themselves along the border.