The US Consulate in Tijuana on Tuesday issued a security alert for the northwestern state of Baja California Sur following recent incidents of cartel-related violence near the popular beach resort city of San Jose del Cabo at the southern end of the state, one of which left an American tourist dead.
The security alert stated that the consulate was “aware of media reports related to two recent security incidents between criminal elements and government of Mexico law enforcement near the main international airport servicing the Cabo San Lucas area.”
The alert went on to state that although the violence occurred outside the typical tourist areas of Cabo San Lucas, concerns may arise for US citizens transiting to and from Los Cabos International Airport, which serves both San Jose del Cabo and its sister resort city, Cabo San Lucas.
The alert advised US citizens in the Los Cabos area to “remain vigilant, as additional violence could occur at any time.”
The security alert was issued after a 31-year-old man from California was killed just after midnight on Sunday when caught in the crossfire between soldiers and cartel gunmen on the La Paz–San Jose del Cabo Highway (Federal Highway 1) in the Las Veredas neighborhood in northern San Jose del Cabo.
Las Veredas is a lower-income residential area located on the opposite side of the highway from Los Cabos International Airport.
Two soldiers and five other bystanders were wounded in the gunfire.
The American was transported to a local hospital where he died a few hours later.
It would appear the American and the five wounded bystanders were traveling on the highway and became inadvertently caught up in the shootout.
The gunmen managed to flee the scene.
The authorities seized four long guns, two tactical vests, a radio and over a dozen metallic tire spikes, which are routinely used by fleeing cartel operatives to prevent pursuit by military and police.
In the afternoon on Monday, three gangsters were killed and a fourth arrested following a shootout with security forces outside a residence in the La Ballena neighborhood of northwestern San Jose del Cabo.
Authorities also seized 12 long guns, dozens of rifle magazines and rounds of ammunition, a 40mm grenade launcher, tactical equipment, narcotics and three vehicles.
At a second property in La Ballena, security forces also seized a cache of narcotics and six stolen vehicles.
Though San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, known collectively as Los Cabos, have historically been somewhat insulated from the high levels of cartel violence that plague the northern and central areas of Baja California Sur, the ongoing internecine fighting between the rival Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has led to increased confrontations throughout the state.
The fragmentation of the once-dominant Sinaloa Cartel has predictably spread violence to areas long considered uncontested.
Further complicating the situation are reports that the ultra-violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Spanish abbr: CJNG), which in recent years has expanded its presence in Baja California Sur, has aligned itself with Los Chapitos in their fight with La Mayiza.
In April 2025, the US Embassy in Mexico City issued a security alert for Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, following several recent incidents of cartel violence in those cities.
The two recent gunfights between security forces and cartel operatives in northern San Jose del Cabo, along with the military-grade arsenals seized by authorities, clearly demonstrate that the cartel-related violence that has long plagued the Baja California Peninsula has now arrived in Los Cabos.
Conventional crime levels have also risen in Los Cabos, including muggings, armed robberies, and residential burglaries.
Personnel bound for Los Cabos resorts should travel by air directly to Los Cabos International Airport in San Jose del Cabo and pre-arrange secure ground transportation. They should not drive rental cars.
Flights should be scheduled to avoid road travel before sunrise or after sunset to and from Los Cabos International Airport.
Insofar as possible, they should remain on resort grounds. Public beaches should be avoided.
Bars and nightclubs outside resorts should be avoided.
Excursions to La Paz and other towns outside the Los Cabos cordon are strongly discouraged.
