Mexico security response intensifies after El Mencho killing

mexico sent thousands of extra troops after a wave of violence erupted following the death in custody of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho. " The unrest has left dozens dead, disrupted travel to tourist areas and raised questions about security in cities scheduled to host World Cup matches this summer.

Mexico deploys thousands of soldiers as violence spreads from Jalisco

Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said an extra 2, 500 soldiers were sent to western mexico on Monday, bringing the total troops deployed to about 9, 500 since Sunday. Violence began in central‑western Jalisco state, where a code red security situation has been declared, and has spread to at least a dozen more regions; at least 20 states have seen unrest since El Mencho died in custody.

A photograph from Jalisco showed a member of the National Guard standing near the charred wreckage of a bus that appears to have been set on fire by organised crime groups on Sunday.

How Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes was captured and died in Tapalpa

TreviIla said forces tracked down a romantic partner the drug lord was meeting, and that information from that partner led to his capture. The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was seriously injured in a firefight between his bodyguards and the military commandos deployed to capture him. He was shot during the attempt to seize him in the town of Tapalpa and died while the military was transporting him to Mexico City.

At least six of El Mencho's security guards were killed in the operation, and three members of the Mexican military were injured.

National Guard and civilian casualties, arson and roadblocks in multiple towns

At least 25 members of mexico's National Guard have died in Jalisco state since the violence erupted; officials also said at least 25 National Guard officers were killed within 24 hours. Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said a prison guard, a member of the state prosecutor's office, and 30 members of El Mencho's criminal organisation had been killed in the unrest since his death.

As news of the killing spread, CJNG members launched attacks in many towns and cities where the cartel is active. In some places they blocked roads by throwing spikes and nails onto the tarmac; in others they commandeered buses and other vehicles and torched them in the middle of the road. Authorities said those roadblocks had been cleared by Monday morning, but dozens of banks and local businesses have been damaged after being set alight.

Travel disruption: airports, airlines and government advisories

Flights from Puerto Vallarta were expected to resume "today or tomorrow, " and the airline Aeromexico announced flights to and from Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Tepic would gradually resume from today. German airline Lufthansa said it would be operating flights to Mexico from Frankfurt and Munich today. Flight tracking apps showed many aeroplanes returning to their departure destinations amid the chaos.

The US government advised Americans in Jalisco to shelter indoors, and the US State Department opened a 24/7 crisis hotline that called on Americans to shelter in parts of the country including Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta. Canada cancelled flights to the Puerto Vallarta airport. Jalisco residents were warned to stay indoors, and the UK Foreign Office also told Britons to shelter inside amid the unrest.

Cartel power, motives and risks to the World Cup schedule

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as the CJNG, is one of mexico's most feared criminal organisations. Its leader was long considered the country's most wanted man. The CJNG is estimated to be worth more than £10bn and to have tens of thousands of members; it has been held responsible for a string of massacres, kidnappings and killings of politicians since its formation in 2009.

Experts have warned that mexico's co‑hosting of this summer's Fifa World Cup could be compromised by the eruption in cartel violence. Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco and home to more than a million people, is scheduled to host four matches at the tournament; Mexico City is scheduled to host five matches and Monterrey four.

Javier Eskauriatza, an assistant professor of criminal law at the University of Nottingham, said when you push down on cartels they give pushback and that the resulting security situation can be hard to manage. He added that cartels have economic incentives to keep the World Cup peaceful because they pay off officials, buy businesses such as restaurants and hotels, and are embedded in local economies. He also said the CJNG's visible, nationwide reaction was calibrated to avoid appearing weak.

A member of the CJNG described the recent attacks as "revenge" for their leader's death.

Scenes on the ground and the media response

Images from Mexico City showed federal police guarding the security secretary's building. A newspaper seller in Mexico City placed the morning's editions on display, with the killing and its aftermath dominating coverage. A live page tracking the unfolding events was later closed.

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, praised the army's operation that led to El Mencho's death and said her priority is to guarantee peace and security across the country. "There is calm, there is government, there are armed forces, and there is a lot of co‑ordination, " she said.