whats happening in mexico : El Mencho Killed, Cartel Violence Erupts Across Nation as Tourists Shelter in Place

Mexico woke up Monday, February 23, 2026 ET, in a state of unprecedented turmoil following the military killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — known globally as "El Mencho" — the feared founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). His death has plunged the country into its most severe security crisis in years, with violence erupting across at least 15 states, flights canceled, schools shut, and thousands of tourists stranded inside their hotels.

Who Was El Mencho and How Was He Killed?

Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was wounded during a military operation in the small town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara, and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. Mexico's Defense Ministry confirmed that Special Forces, working with the National Intelligence Center and the Attorney General's Office, deployed multiple Air Force aircraft and National Guard units to carry out the raid.

El Mencho had a $15 million USD bounty on his head placed by the United States government. A former police officer and avocado farmer, he co-founded the CJNG around 2007 and built it into what the FBI considers Mexico's most powerful and dangerous drug trafficking organization — responsible for the majority of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl entering the United States.

Wave of Cartel Violence Sweeps Across Mexico

The retaliation was instantaneous and devastating. A coordinated wave of violence exploded through the country, reaching at least 18 of Mexico's 32 states. Across the republic, suspected members of organised groups torched buses and businesses and erected fiery roadblocks.

More than 250 blockades were reported across 20 Mexican states, with most roadblocks now cleared as of Monday morning ET. In Jalisco, schools were canceled statewide for Monday, all mass public events were suspended, and public transit was halted in affected zones.

US Tourists Stranded — Flights Canceled, Shelter-in-Place Orders Issued

The US State Department urged American nationals in parts of Mexico to "seek shelter and remain in residences or hotels." The U.S. Embassy instructed citizens in Jalisco State — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara — as well as Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León to shelter in place until further notice.

Jim Beck, a Minnesotan who has visited Puerto Vallarta for more than 20 years, said he has always felt safe in the city until Sunday morning, describing panicked crowds running through streets and cars blowing up.

Mexico's President Sheinbaum and the US Role

The White House confirmed the US provided intelligence support for the operation. The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Oseguera Cervantes' arrest. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum applauded security forces and called for calm, though she has long criticized the "kingpin" strategy of targeting cartel leaders, warning it can trigger explosions of violence as cartels fracture.

What Comes Next: Power Vacuum and World Cup Concerns

There is no obvious successor to Oseguera. His brother is in a US prison, his son El Menchito is also imprisoned, as is his daughter. Different regional bosses within the cartel could now begin disputing for power — a dynamic that previously sparked a civil war between Sinaloa factions after El Chapo's arrest.

The timing is particularly sensitive as Mexico is set to host the FIFA World Cup and Guadalajara is a host city, with matches scheduled for June 2026. Both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta airports are open as normal, though airlines may have diversions in place, and schools in Jalisco and Nayarit remain closed Monday as a precautionary measure.