Sinister discovery during search for missing surfers

A charred white ute, believed to belong to one of the Perth brothers missing in Mexico, has been found.

Brothers Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, and their friend Jack Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing and camping trip in the Baja California region of Mexico, near Ensenada, when they disappeared earlier this week.

Their families and friends took to social media to ask for help finding them after they failed to check into their Airbnb in Rosarito, near the U.S.-Mexico border, on Saturday morning.

Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez told reporters on Friday morning that three Mexicans had been arrested in connection with the case, Nine reports.

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.

A woman was found in possession of the phone as well as some illegal drugs.

She was arrested with two other men.

Ms. Ramírez said three abandoned tents were found south of the Ensenada area, where the boys were likely located before they disappeared.

Local media reported that blood was found in the tents.

A burned car was also 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.

“A task force (of investigators) is at the site where they were last seen, where tents and other evidence was found that could be linked to these three people we are investigating,” Andrade Ramírez said Thursday, reports the Washington Post.

“There is a lot of important information that we cannot make public.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Friday morning that DFAT was in contact with the brother's 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 upset about this situation and we are just hoping for a positive outcome.”

Ms. Robinson called Thursday after not hearing from her sons for a few days.

The brothers failed to check into their Airbnb and Callum, who was supposed to return to work in San Diego, never showed up.

“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.”

Their mother is also particularly worried because Callum suffers from type 1 diabetes.

She also shared a photo showing her sons went missing Saturday morning in the Rosarito and Ensenada area of ​​Baja California.

Rosarito is a coastal city in Baja California, Mexico, located about an hour's drive north of Ensenada and a 45-minute drive south of the U.S. city of San Diego.

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”.

“We urge the Australian lacrosse community and our global lacrosse family to continue to share Callum's friends and family's post (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 told reporters.

“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.”