Santa Ana winds turn a day in November into a warm summer day with temperatures far into the 90's. Being outside is highly uncomfortable. One flees into climated shopping-centres or stays inside - enjoying the cool of the house.The white Nissan with California licence plates was already there when we arrived at our friends' house. And it was still there the next afternoon when we left to grab a bite to eat. And it was still there when we returned after dark. Which is very unusual since our friends' house is in a gated aera where people just don't park cars* outside their secured homes.
The next morning we woke to the noise of numerous two-way radios. We stepped out on the balcony to check out what the humdrum was all about.
At least 15 people were gathered around the car. Half of them police officers in uniform, the rest plain- clothes people (REAL CSI's we guess) photographing the car from all angles, opening doors and doing some more photographing.
The odor that reached us on the balcony was really bad. Like rotting fish/ bio waste. Very nasty.
Members of the local newspaper arrived. Two lifeless bodies ,with their hands tied in the back, had been found in the car. Obviously, they had been dead for three days.
Our friend who drove us to the airport a few hours later shrugged it off - according to him dead bodies turned up every day in his city (289 since October!). Although, this was the first time it had happened in his street....
*The cars in the back of the picture are ALL police vehicles.. Click to enlarge picture!
Oh my God Vix,Don't go there any more.It's murder central.
ReplyDeleteThe homocide stats are unbelievable.
Such a beautiful place,and you came that close to rotting corpses.
I bet a lot of innocent bystanders get knocked off too.
That wasn't a very nice experience for you.
Baja California is a very beautiful place,haven't been there,I am glad you enjoyed your stay.I guess people that live there are use to the killing..what a waste in human life.
ReplyDeleteYou know, interestingly enough,locals there say: "As long as they kill each other and no innocents we don't care. Everybody who is in this business must know the risk. We are only fed up with finding dead bodies in front of our homes and schools EVERY DAY."
ReplyDeleteI can understand that.
Our friends invite us every other weekend. Once in a while we follow their invitation.
We sure live in interesting times,when people get so used to killing they are blase about it.
ReplyDeleteI used to think we were civilized enough to bring an end to violence one day.That was naive.Violence seems to be escalating.
It is a form of survival.They know that nothing can change it. That the police is too corrupt and to unorganized to stop it. The people who commit those crimes will stop at nothing. Last week they arrested a hitman who recently had killed 6 people for one of the cartels. He told investigators he got 300 bucks per dead body.
ReplyDeleteYou can only bring an end to the violence if you have a strong inviolable force. On Monday - according to the print media- they arrested 15 police officers with suspected ties to both cartels.
It is such a strange, frightening and merciless world down there.
You're right about needing an incorruptible force.That would make it strong if they trusted each other and had each other's backs.
ReplyDeleteOur friend told us there is a saying down in Baja California: Organized Crime and Unorganized police.
ReplyDeleteWhen they talk about the cartels they talk about "Management Level" and "Infantry Members".
It is mind-boggling for people like us who are on the outside and who never have witnessed such an ailing state-system.