Puerto Vallarta, also a city on the West Coast and a popular Mexican tourist city among Los Angeles residents, was plunged into unprecedented chaos and flames on Sunday.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Mexican federal troops successfully killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the long-time leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), nicknamed "El Mencho", in the remote town of Tapalpa in the state. Mencho), the drug cartel launched large-scale retaliatory actions in many places across the country, including setting fire to vehicles, setting up roadblocks, street shootouts and riots, resulting in a large number of tourists being stranded, flight cancellations and traffic paralysis.
It is understood that the CIA provided intelligence to the Mexican army, which enabled the Mexican army to successfully "behead" drug lords. Local gangs regard American tourists as their enemies. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico urges American citizens to take shelter in place, minimize unnecessary travel, and avoid areas with frequent law enforcement activities.
Senator Bernie Moreno said on social media: Mexican narco-terrorists are "hunting American citizens" in Puerto Vallarta. “Drug cartels should know that if any U.S. citizen is harmed in Mexico, the United States will retaliate violently and lethally.”
action
Killed the drug lord of the century
According to an official statement from the Mexican Defense Ministry (Secretariat of National Defense), in the early hours of Sunday morning, military special forces carried out a targeted operation in the town of Tapalpa aimed at arresting the drug lord who has been wanted by the international community for many years. A fierce exchange of fire broke out during the operation, and "El Mencho" was seriously injured and died while being airlifted to Mexico City.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed that the operation also resulted in the death of several cartel members on the spot and the seizure of heavy weapons including rocket launchers. The cartel is considered one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations, primarily responsible for large-scale smuggling of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States, as well as involvement in extortion, fuel theft and other areas.
"El Mencho" is 59 years old. He is a former policeman who has led the CJNG for many years. The US State Department has placed a reward of US$15 million on him. The group was known for its extreme violence, and its death was seen as a major victory for the Mexican government in its fight against drug cartels. Especially in the context of the Trump administration's continued pressure on Mexico to strengthen border drug controls, the United States quickly praised the operation as "significant progress."
In a statement late Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson acknowledged the victory achieved by Mexico's armed forces and their sacrifices. He said that under the leadership of Trump and Scheinbaum, "bilateral cooperation has reached an unprecedented level."
revenge
nationwide riots
However, this victory quickly turned into a national crisis. In retaliatory response from the CJNG, suspected cartel members launched "narco-blockades" tactics in Jalisco and several other states: burning buses, private cars, and trucks, blocking major highways, and creating chaos to hinder the movement of troops.
Videos circulating on social media showed that many buses and cars were burning on the streets of Puerto Vallarta, with black smoke billowing and covering the sky; passengers at Guadalajara International Airport fled in panic, with some people lying on the ground to take cover, and others rushing to take cover behind the counter;
Thick smoke was also seen near the airport's runway, and pictures showed a burned aircraft. Similar scenes also occurred in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Colima, Tamaulipas, Aguascalientes and other states, with at least six states reporting roadblocks and arson incidents.
warn
American tourists evacuate immediately
Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, came to a complete standstill on Sunday. Residents and visitors reported acrid smoke billowing over the city, and there were concerns the smoke could contain toxins. All public transportation was suspended, shops were closed, and hotels advised guests to stay indoors.
Many stranded American tourists asked for help on social platforms: One Facebook user said that his daughter was staying in an Airbnb and the entire town was blocked. She is currently safe but the "situation is very scary"; another Instagram post described tourists vacationing in a Palma villa as "black smoke everywhere, flights canceled, nowhere to go, and the smell of smoke on the beach is too heavy." Reddit users revealed that all flights planned to Puerto Vallarta were suspended indefinitely, and some people had made an emergency U-turn home while waiting at the airport.
A widely circulated Instagram video showed dozens of Canadian tourists trapped on the roof of a hotel, overlooking burning vehicles and chaotic crowds on the streets. Global Affairs Canada has issued a high-risk travel warning, urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel and recommending shelter-in-place in Puerto Vallarta.
The U.S. State Department quickly issued a security alert to U.S. citizens stranded in the area, warning to "shelter in place, avoid crowds, and minimize travel." The alert covered Jalisco (including Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Chapala), parts of Tamaulipas, as well as Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon. Many airlines, including Air Canada, United, and Delta, have announced the suspension or cancellation of flights to Puerto Vallarta.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Highway Patrol, Texas Rangers and the Division of Criminal Investigation to monitor the border to prevent violent clashes between Mexican authorities and drug cartels from "spreading" into the United States.
governor
Entering "red alert" status
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro announced on the “Federal forces carried out an operation in Tapalpa a few hours ago, leading to clashes in the area.
In addition, as a result of this operation, vehicles were burned and blocked in several locations in the region and other parts of Jalisco to hinder the movement of the authorities,” the governor said, calling on people to stay at home until the situation stabilizes.
Mexico's Federal Ministry of Security emphasized that it is making every effort to restore order and that "the top priority is to ensure the safety and protection of citizens." However, the situation is not good. Twenty-five members of the Mexican National Guard were killed in six separate attacks after special forces killed the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, Mexico's security minister said on Monday.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm as authorities said more than 250 drug cartel roadblocks in 20 states had been cleared as of Monday.
Tourist areas like Puerto Vallarta, which should be paradises of tranquility, are now shrouded in black smoke and fear. Experts are worried that plans to host some of the 2026 World Cup events in Jalisco may face safety risks if they cannot be calmed down quickly.
So far, the chaos is still continuing, with reinforcements from Mexican federal troops arriving and airports and roads being gradually cleared.
