Members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, have unleashed widespread violence across 20 states following the death of their leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”.
El Mencho, Mexico’s most wanted man, was seriously injured in a firefight with Mexican special forces during his capture on Sunday. He died in custody while being transported from Tapalpa, Jalisco, to Mexico City.
In retaliation, CJNG members launched attacks in towns and cities across their territory, blocking roads with burning vehicles, spikes, and nails, and torching businesses. Footage showed plumes of smoke in locations including the tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta, where dozens of banks and shops were set ablaze.
In Guadalajara, a host city for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, airport travelers were seen running and crouching in panic after gunfire was reported nearby, though authorities later dismissed reports of shots inside the terminal. Many streets in affected towns were deserted as residents were urged to seek shelter.
The scenes drew comparisons to the 2019 capture of Ovidio Guzmán López, when street battles between the Sinaloa cartel and security forces forced authorities to release him temporarily to prevent further bloodshed.
In Puerto Vallarta, tourists were instructed to shelter in place, with about 300 visitors stranded at the airport being transferred to the city center under heavy police escort.
The UK Foreign Office and US State Department advised nationals to remain indoors across multiple states, including Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
The governor of Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is located, declared a “code red”, halting all public transport, cancelling mass events, and suspending in-person classes. Reports indicate that more than 250 road blockades were recorded across the affected Mexican states.
While officials say 90% of the blockades have been cleared, tension remains high, particularly in CJNG strongholds. So far, 25 people have been arrested, 11 for alleged violent acts and 14 for looting and pillaging.
The Mexican president has come under pressure from the Trump administration to do more to combat the powerful transnational drug trafficking groups which are based in her country.
US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said late on Sunday night that El Mencho was a “top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland”.
The Mexican Ministry of Defence said that the raid aimed at capturing El Mencho had been carried out by the Mexican army, with support from the country’s National Guard and Air Force.
It added that “complementary information” provided by the US had helped seize the drug lord.
The US had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture. Mike Vigil, former DEA chief of international operations, called the operation “one of the most significant actions undertaken in the history of drug trafficking.”
