The parents of two Perth brothers who vanished in Mexico are flying out to the area where they were last seen to join the search amid growing signs that they and their friend met with foul play.
Callum, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, as well as their US friend Jack Rhoad, 30, have not been heard from since April 27.
Three locals have been detained by Mexican authorities, who say there is more evidence than has been made publicly known that connect the trio to the vanished surfers.
The Perth brothers’ parents Debra and Martin Robinson are flying out to visit the locations pictured by trio in their last social media posts, which excitedly documented the start of their trip in Baja California.
Those social media posts showed them at Rosarito Beach, where they were believed to be surfing and camping.
The group reportedly planned on moving on to Ensenada, but they failed to check into the Airbnb stay they had booked for Sunday.
The last image posted to Callum’s Instagram page showed them at a beach in Ensenada before going off the radar.
Jake left Australia two weeks ago to visit his US-based brother.
‘It was a trip of a lifetime to see his brother, before shortly taking up a new position at Geelong Hospital in Victoria,’ the parents said.
‘Callum and Jake are beautiful human beings. We love them so much and this breaks our heart.’
The parents of two Australian surfers who vanished while on a trip to Mexico are flying to where they were last seen (Jake, left and Callum, right, with their parents)
Callum last posted from Ensenada, where they failed to check into an Airbnb on Sunday
Callum also shared images the sights they were exploring and meals they were having
One chilling picture shows a white Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck at the beach in Rosarito
Jake and Callum are understood to have gone missing from the Baja California region near Ensenada
They said Jake had worked in regional hospitals across Australia.
Jake and Callum had attended the Coachella music festival before going to Mexico to surf.
‘Jake is such a gentle soul and would want no harm,’ his parents said.
‘Our only comfort right now is that they were together doing something they passionately love.
‘We ask people to keep them in their thoughts and prayers and to continue to respect our privacy at this distressing time.’
Earlier on Friday, the Baja California Attorney-General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez said three Mexicans had been arrested – a female and two males.
Local media also reported that Mexican police arrested a woman, 23, who had a phone belonging to one of the brothers.
A woman and two men, all Mexican, have been arrested in connection to the case, Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez (centre) told reporters
Three people have been detained in connection the probe. Mexican officials are seen in a checkpoint in Ensenada on Thursday
According to local media, blood was discovered at three abandoned tents where the brothers and their American friend were believed to be staying before they vanished. A truck, said to belong to either Jake or Callum, was also found burnt out at a nearby farm (pictured)
Traces of blood were also reportedly found at a campsite they group had used.
‘A working team 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 have under investigation,’ Ms Ramirez said.
‘There is a lot of important information that we can’t make public. We do not know what condition they are in.
‘All lines of investigation are open at this time. We cannot rule anything out until we find them.’
A burnt-out white Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck was found on a ranch in the Santo Tomás area after the ranch manager called 911 on Thursday (local time), according to local media TalkBaja.
A check of the vehicle’s VIN reportedly identified it as belonging to one of the three missing surfers, and it had been pictured in their social media posts.
Three tents were discovered south of the Ensenada region and local authorities have searched hundreds of square kilometres of land in the surrounding area.
Jake and Callum had attended the Coachella music festival before going to Mexico to surf. Picture: Instagram
The brothers were traveling with American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, seen in an image uploaded by Callum on Saturday
Australian brothers Jake, 30, (right) and Callum Robinson, 33, vanished without a trace in the Baja California region in Mexico
Callum, who was an avid social media user, is pictured here at a festival with a friend who is unconnected to his disappearance. He has been described as an ‘Australian lacrosse star’
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were continuing to provide consular assistance to the family.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the brothers’ disappearance as ‘a really concerning situation’.
‘Our embassy in Mexico is working with local authorities as well to try to ascertain what has happened here,’ he told Seven’s Sunrise program on Friday.
‘We certainly hope that these brothers are found safely but there is real concern about the fact that they’ve gone missing.
‘Their mother is obviously very distressed about this and we just hope for a positive outcome.’
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they were assisting the family.
‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of two Australians reported missing in Mexico,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.’
Jake (left) and Callum Robinson (right) have not been heard from for days after going missing on a surfing trip to Mexico (pictured with their parents)
Debra Robinson appealed for help from the public in the search for her sons on Thursday
Lacrosse Australia issued a statement on social media expressing its concern over the whereabouts of Jake, Callum and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad.
It described Callum as an ‘Australian lacrosse star’.
‘We urge the Australian lacrosse community and our global lacrosse family to continue sharing the post from Callum’s friends and family (located on the LA Facebook and Instagram story) in the hope that Callum, Jake and Jack are found safe and sound,’ it said.
‘Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the Callum, Jake and Jack during this incredibly stressful time.’
Ramírez said her office was in contact with Australian and U.S. officials but suggested that the time that had passed might make it harder to find them.
‘Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the last few days that they were reported missing. So, that meant that important hours or time was lost,’ she said.
Baja California has been plagued by cartel violence in recent months.
In 2015, two Australian surfers, Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, were killed in western Sinaloa state, across the Gulf of California — also known as the Sea of Cortez— from the Baja peninsula.
Authorities say they were victims of highway bandits. Three suspects were arrested in that case.
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