If you’ve ever traveled the Baja, you’d find that the major throughways (1, 3 and 5) have army posts where well-armed, but very polite and clean-cut, soldiers search your car - mostly for drugs. The drug gangs are out of control, but I personally never had a problem as I stay out of those areas where drug trafficking occurs.
Cabo San Lucas and La Paz are HIGHLY problematic. But contrast San Felipe (Baja Norte - Cortez) and La Mision (Baja Norte - Pacific) - very little crime.
Darn shame. La Paz was very nice. Excellent diving in the Sea of Cortez.
Spent a few weeks in San Felipe in 1976. Don’t remember much except that it was cheap and the beer was cold. Oh and the tides were hugh.