Schools have been closed and residents urged to remain indoors after violence broke out across parts of Mexico following the killing of one of the country’s most powerful drug lords.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal organisation accused of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States and carrying out frequent attacks against Mexican security forces.
He was injured during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco state, on Sunday and later died while being transported to Mexico City, according to officials.
In the hours that followed, cartel members responded with coordinated acts of violence. Roads were blocked, vehicles were set alight and sporadic gunfire was reported in multiple regions. President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm as security forces sought to contain unrest.
A member of the cartel told Reuters that the attacks were carried out “in revenge for the leader’s death”, initially targeting the government. The individual also warned that further bloodshed could follow as rival factions move to seize control of the organisation.
Air travel has been heavily disrupted. United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, WestJet and Delta cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara in Jalisco state. A Delta flight from Detroit to Puerto Vallarta was diverted mid-air due to what the airline described as “developing civil unrest”.
On Monday, Guadalajara airport showed nearly all scheduled arrivals from the United States as cancelled, while Puerto Vallarta airport also reported multiple cancellations, including flights from Mexico City, Houston, Toronto and Denver.
The US embassy confirmed that Mexican special forces carried out the operation with “complementary intelligence” support from US authorities. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington had provided intelligence assistance, describing El Mencho as a “top target” and noting that three additional cartel members were killed, three wounded and two arrested.
The United States had previously offered a $15m reward for information leading to his arrest. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation last year.
The UK and other foreign governments have advised their citizens in Mexico to remain indoors. Schools have closed in several affected states as authorities work to restore order amid fears of further retaliation and internal power struggles within the cartel.