Violence and unrest is sweeping Mexico after the country’s military killed a highly-sought after cartel leader.
Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed in a military operation in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday, officials said.
In the ensuing hours, videos and reports emerged of roadblocks with burning vehicles, a known cartel tactic against law enforcement, shoot-outs and gas stations being set ablaze.
The U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs urged Americans in several parts of Mexico to shelter in place. This was “due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity,” the agency wrote on X.
Regions under the advisory include the Mexican states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show thick plumes of smoke around the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta and panic among travelers rushing through the Guadalajara International Airport.
Some footage appeared to show travelers running with their bags in hand, while other video showed travelers dropping their belongings to take cover behind flight desks amidst the chaos.
Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports have been diverted or canceled by several major airlines, including Delta, American and Alaska.
Air Canada also temporarily suspended operations at the Puerto Vallarta Airport due to what it described as “an ongoing security situation in Puerto Vallarta.”
“We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue,” the airline said.
Footage taken in Guadalajara, Jalisco’s capital city that is set to host World Cup matches this summer, also appeared to show burning vehicles blocking roads.
Jalisco Gov. Pablos Lemus Navarro activated a “code red,” a protocol used in emergencies, in response to the clashes. He noted on X that public transportation was suspended across Jalisco and urged people in the area to stay home.
El Mencho was highly sought-after as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The U.S. State Department in December offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.
President Donald Trump has said he would be willing to launch strikes on Mexico to stop the smuggling of illegal drugs over the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since CJNG formed in 2009, it has become one of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels. Officials believe the cartel has the highest capacity for trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the U.S.
