Mexican City Mayor Relocated To Military Base Amid Death Threats

After facing a series of threats targeting her safety, the mayor of Tijuana, Montserrat Caballero, has decided to move her residence to military barracks.

In a social media update on Monday, Mayor Caballero revealed that the threats came following a successful operation to seize 1,700 firearms from a criminal organization.

Additionally, police discovered the bodies of seven individuals stuffed in a pickup truck earlier in the week.

The mayor's decision to relocate to a military base aims to ensure her security amid these troubling circumstances.

"I have received threats, so I am going to live at the base," Caballero said. Local media have reported the barracks are on the southern edge of Tijuana, about 8 km (5 miles) from city hall.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed the threats during a press conference on Tuesday, blaming "organised crime groups".

"She's being protected, since about two weeks ago," Lopez Obrador explained. "We reached an agreement to help protect her and will continue to do so."

The Tijuana city council also released a statement, saying that the threats were a result of Caballero's "strong results in weapons seizures and arrest of violent suspects."

Relocating Mayor Caballero to a military base highlights the pervasive violence and reprisals endured by individuals who take action against or expose the operations of armed groups in Mexico, particularly those involved in drug trafficking, Al Jazeera reported.

Concerns arise from the alleged connections between some of these groups and state authorities, leading to apprehensions that they can carry out attacks without facing consequences.

The decision to transfer the mayor underscores the challenging circumstances surrounding the fight against these illicit organizations.

"Today we are saying to the organised crime groups that are committing these crimes, that Tijuana is going to remain open and take care of its citizens," Caballero said in a video in 2022.

"We also ask them to settle their debts with those who didn't pay what they owe, not with families and hard-working citizens."

Tijuana, known for having the highest homicide rate among Mexican cities, has experienced a nine percent rise in murder cases over the past year.

This increase can be attributed, in part, to ongoing clashes between rival criminal organizations vying for dominance over resources and power in the border city.

These conflicts have contributed to the escalating violence and precarious security situation in Tijuana.