Mexico City, Feb 23 (.) A wave of violence erupted across western Mexico on Monday after the country’s most wanted drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed during a security operation with the support of US intelligence.
Oseguera, the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was reportedly wounded in a firefight with Mexican forces and died while being airlifted for medical treatment. At least six other people were killed during the operation, and several members of the security forces were injured.
The clashes occurred on Sunday in Tapalpa, a town in Jalisco state. According to Mexico’s defense ministry, four CJNG members were killed and three army personnel were wounded during the confrontation.
School was cancelled on Monday in several states. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the country’s security forces in a post on X and called for calm.
“There is absolute coordination with the governments of all states,” she wrote. “In the vast majority of the national territory, activities are proceeding with complete normality.”
Following the cartel leader’s death, violence quickly spread to at least a dozen states, including the western state of Jalisco. CJNG members reportedly blocked highways with burning vehicles and exchanged gunfire with authorities in parts of Jalisco and neighboring regions.
The unrest extended to Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist destination on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Streets were largely deserted Monday afternoon as businesses shut down and ride-hailing services were suspended.
The clashes started between federal agencies and the members of the armed groups. Authorities reported armed groups setting vehicles ablaze to block roads, prompting security alerts across western Mexico.
The Mexican operation set off a wave of ⁠violence, with gunmen torching cars and blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, including Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas.
Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara, which will host several matches in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, was turned into a ghost town on Sunday night as civilians hunkered down.
Canada urged its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to take shelter following the clashes between federal forces and criminal groups. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand saidnearly 19,000 Canadians are registered as being in Mexico, including more than 4,500 in Jalisco state.
She said that Canada is closely monitoring the serious and rapidly evolving security situation in Jalisco State, Mexico, including in and around Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
“We are deeply alarmed by reports of violence following a major security operation, including armed clashes, roadblocks, and vehicles set on fire in multiple areas. We are aware that local authorities have issued shelter-in-place orders in some locations, and the situation remains fluid,” she added.
“The safety and security of Canadians abroad remains our highest priority,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, announcing an updated travel advisory. Consular officials are in close contact with local authorities and stand ready to assist Canadians in the region.
Puerto Vallarta’s international airport was also affected, with Canadian airlines canceling flights and some aircraft turning back mid-journey.
The US government provided intelligence support as part of bilateral security cooperation, according to the Mexican embassy in Washington. The United States had previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Oseguera’s capture, while Mexican authorities had announced a reward of approximately $20 million.
Founded around 2009, the CJNG has grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, known for high-profile attacks using military-grade weapons, drones and explosives. The group is accused of trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously warned that targeting cartel leaders can sometimes trigger splinter groups and renewed violence.
Residents across several affected states were advised to remain indoors as security forces worked to restore order. Authorities have not said how long emergency measures will remain in place. Nancy Sutton, a Canadian tourist staying north of Puerto Vallarta, described the chaos as “very surreal,” citing explosions and sirens. “People kept telling us, ‘Danger, go back,'” she said. Officials say the security situation remains serious and rapidly evolving.