set up in tijuana!

[Leo]

If I ever had a problem like that in TJ, I would contact 2 places:

1) Tourism Protection Office on the corner of Revolution & 1st opposite the Main Tourist Office (open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm; tel 6/688-0555). This is the office to head for if you become a victim of crime, a rip-off or simply want to make a complaint. The Main Tourist Office is open daily 9am-7pm; tel 6/684-0537 or 684-0538.

2) United States Consulate
011-52-664-622-7400

They may or may not be able to get my money back, but it would hopefully give them enough info that they could keep an eye out for future problems. I've never had a problem in the 40 plus years I've been going to TJ. But I follow the general advice we see often here: don't get drunk and obnoxious, don't pee in the street, don't be rude, etc. In other words, don't draw negative attention. If we never report these problems, the ripoffs definitely will not be reduced.

 

[Gwen]

I have had the same experience some time ago.

In my case someone came up to me and offered to take me to a massage parlor, I very quickly declined and began to walk in the opposite direction. The police immediatly swooped in and called the two of us over to the van.

They searched my pockets and found nothing, then dropped the bag on the ground between the solicitor and myself. It all happened so fast the I was really caught off guard. Into the van I went. While in the van the fellow that asked me to go to the massage parlor started bartering with me for our release as if he was in league with the cops. They attempted to get me to go to the ATM, however I told them that I gone before arriving in TJ and had exceeded my limit. They drove me a round until I agreed to pay them $70 via the fellow that was in the back of the van with me.

You should take that time to report it. Mexico is currupt. From the top to the bottom, it is currupt. Corruption is an acceptable way of life there. It is getting worse not better. Anyone that is in TJ, in a group or alone is open to this very kind of experience. It sucks.

The real bad part of this is that the Mexican politicains are posturing, and declaring that they are working on the curruption. Mean while the problem is increasingly worse. Go figure.

 

[cmeduck]

Don't go alone. The cops look for US money all by itself, then they shake you down. Think for a minute. Two cops vs. one drunk, OR two cops vs. six guys, not so drunk. And yeah, if you are in part of a group of guys that gets busted by two cops, jump them and beat the s**** out of them and make a get away across the border.

Don't get drunk, don't do stupid stuff. Don't buy pot, because the guy selling you the pot will immediatley sell your name to his cousin, Officer Friendly, who will then bust you.

Remember that Tia-hoochie isn't a real safe place. Fun, but not real safe.

 

[the.ash]

wow. anyone here have experience enough on how to get out of this situation with as much money intact as possible?

possibly counter them with "Let's go see the judge" ?

 

[yasmin]

I've have heard of many stories like this one. they drive you around to fuck with you. Things are different there and sometimes things are unexplainable. Sorry for the bad luck. I think it can't get no worse than that. I still would rather get pulled over by tijuanas finest rather than Long Beach PD! The difference is that you were let go. As for your brother... wrong place at the wrong time.Bad Luck!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Sorry about your bad experience, but are you sure those were real cops? Why would they just drive you around for two hours instead of taking you straight to the police station?

 

[Eric C.]

was in tijuana on saturday and was stopped by the mexican police after exiting adelita bar. they said they were doing a routine check and the cop reached in my pocket and pulled out a platic baggy, which he planted on me and said was cocaine. i was arrested and they drove me around in their car for 2 hours to which they finally said they would let me go if i paid them a $500.00 dollars fine. i told them i only had 200.00 to which they took and then they dropped me off at the border and said i should bring more money back with me or they will put me on a wanted list for drug dealers in mexico . All i could think about was my brother that was arrested on a sting at a pharmacia 2 years back for buying presciption drugs without a presciption and spent a year and a half in jail until they siphoned all of his assets before they let him go. TJ pussy is fun but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth and i will never return, it's just not worth the risk.