A woman and two men have been arrested during the search for two missing brothers from Perth, Mexico who failed to return to their Airbnb after a surfing trip.
Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, disappeared with their American friend Jack Rhoad, 30, five days ago in the Baja California region, near Ensenada, on Mexico’s northwest coast .
After regularly sharing posts on social media about the first two days of their trip, we have not heard from them since Saturday.
A 23-year-old Mexican woman was arrested in connection with the case, Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez told reporters.
She was found in possession of a cell phone belonging to one of the brothers, as well as methamphetamine.
Two men, also Mexican, were arrested alongside him, Ms. Ramírez said.
It appears police were able to make the arrests after one of the brothers’ cell phones was turned back on and pinged a local cell tower.
According to local media, blood was discovered in three abandoned tents where the brothers and their friend were apparently located before they disappeared.
A burned car was found at a ranch in the Santo Tomás area after the ranch manager called 911 on Thursday (local time), according to local media outlet TalkBaja.
A check of the vehicle’s VIN would have identified it as belonging to one of the three missing surfers.
The men were driving a Chevrolet Colorado with California license plate 70189W1.
The three tents were discovered south of the Ensenada region and local authorities searched hundreds of square kilometers of land in the surrounding area.
Jake (left) and Callum Robinson (right) have not been heard from for days after disappearing on a surfing trip to Mexico (pictured with their parents)
A woman and two men, all Mexicans, were arrested in connection with the case, Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez (center) told reporters.
According to local media, blood was discovered in three abandoned tents where the brothers and their American friend were probably located before disappearing. A truck, believed to belong to Jake or Callum, was also found burnt out on a nearby farm (pictured)
Former FBI agent Phil Andrew (right) pinpointed the most disturbing detail of the police investigation so far: the fact that one of the men’s phones was found in the hands of another person.
Ms Ramírez said “a lot of time was lost” because police only began searching for the three men after seeing reports of their disappearance on social media.
“A task force (of investigators) is at the site where they were last seen, where tents and other evidence were found that could be linked to these three people being investigated. an investigation,” Ms. Ramírez said Thursday.
“There is a lot of important information that we cannot make public.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that the Foreign Office had been in contact with the brothers’ family.
“It’s a really concerning situation,” he said.
“Our embassy in Mexico is also working with local authorities to try to determine what happened here.”
“We hope that these brothers will be found safe and sound, but there are real concerns about their disappearance.”
“Their mother is obviously very distressed by this situation and we are just hoping for a positive outcome.”
The brothers’ family is reportedly “frantically” trying to catch a flight to Mexico, 7News reports.
It comes as a former FBI agent pinpointed the most disturbing detail of the police investigation so far: the fact that one of the men’s phones was found in the hands of another person.
“This additional information that their phone was in the hands of a third party raises concerns,” Phil Andrew told Sunrise on Friday morning.
“They are in an area that is difficult to police and very isolated, and there are reports of an increase in the level of crime there.”
Asked what the “most likely scenario” was for the men, Mr Andrew said it was safe to assume the trio had been victims of foul play.
He added that the likelihood of the incident being a kidnapping diminished as time passed without any “sort of request” being made.
Debra Robinson appealed Thursday for the public’s help in the search for her sons.
A woman was reportedly arrested during the search after turning on a mobile phone belonging to one of the brothers (Jake, left and Callum, right, with their parents).
Jake and Callum are believed to have disappeared from the Baja California area, near Ensenada.
Earlier, Jake and Callum’s mother Debra Robinson made an urgent appeal for help to find her sons.
“I am reaching out to everyone who has seen my two sons,” Ms Robinson wrote on Facebook.
“They are traveling with another friend, an American citizen.
“They were supposed to book an Airbnb in Rosarito after their camping weekend, but they didn’t show up.”
Ms. Robinson posted a photo Saturday morning indicating that her sons were missing in the Rosarito and Ensenada area of Baja California.
Rosarito is a coastal city located about an hour’s drive north of Ensenada and a 45-minute drive south of the US city of San Diego.
Ms Robinson said there was a medical issue as Callum is a type 1 diabetic.
She asked anyone who has seen her sons or knows where they are to contact her.
Lacrosse Australia released a statement on social media expressing concern over the fate of Jake, Callum and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad.
He described Callum as an “Australian lacrosse star”.
Callum, who was an avid social media user, is pictured here at a festival with a friend who is not linked to his disappearance. He has been described as an “Australian lacrosse star”.
“We urge the Australian lacrosse community and our global lacrosse family to continue to share the message from Callum’s friends and family (located on Los Angeles’ Facebook and Instagram story) in the hope that Callum, Jake and Jack are found safe and sound,” he said. .
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Callum, Jake and Jack during this incredibly stressful time.”
WA Premier Roger Cook said the situation was “very concerning”.
“When we send our young men and women overseas to enjoy adventure holidays, they carry an element of risk and it is very distressing indeed,” he said.
“I understand that one of the people has a health condition that would require ongoing care, so I share the welfare concerns of all Western Australians.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was assisting the family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of two Australians missing in Mexico,” a spokesperson said.
“Due to our confidentiality obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”
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