What Is Happening in Mexico: El Mencho Killed, Nation on High Alert
Mexico erupted into chaos this week after the military killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, triggering a nationwide wave of reprisal violence that left dozens dead, flights cancelled, and tourists stranded across the country.
What Is Happening in Mexico: The Killing of El Mencho
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Mexican special forces raided a rural compound in the mountainous town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, roughly 80 miles from Guadalajara. Intelligence gathered over several days led military units to El Mencho's hideout. The 59-year-old cartel boss was killed in a shootout, ending a years-long manhunt by both Mexican and U.S. authorities. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had a $15 million reward out for his capture.
Cartel Violence Erupts Across 20 Mexican States
Within hours of the raid, suspected CJNG members launched coordinated reprisal attacks spanning at least 20 of Mexico's 32 states. Cartel operatives torched vehicles, hijacked cargo trucks, and erected over 250 flaming roadblocks — known locally as narcobloqueos — on major highways. Banks, petrol stations, and convenience stores were attacked. The Guadalajara metropolitan area recorded at least 20 active blockades as residents sheltered inside shuttered homes and businesses.
Death Toll and Military Response in Mexico
Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch confirmed at least 74 people were killed in connection with the operation and its violent aftermath. That total includes 25 National Guard members killed in six separate attacks in Jalisco alone, alongside approximately 30 cartel operatives killed in Jalisco and four more in Michoacán. President Claudia Sheinbaum deployed 10,000 soldiers across 20 states. An additional 2,500 troops were rushed specifically into Jalisco to restore order.
Travel Chaos: Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara Flights Disrupted
What is happening in Mexico hit travelers hard and fast. All international flights to Puerto Vallarta International Airport were cancelled on February 22, stranding more than 1,000 visitors overnight at the Guadalajara Zoo alone. American Airlines, Delta, and United waived change fees for passengers flying to or from Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
Air Canada suspended service before announcing a gradual resumption. The U.S. State Department urged citizens in Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Ciudad Guzman to shelter in place and opened a 24/7 crisis hotline fielding hundreds of calls.
Mexico's CJNG Cartel and the Succession Question
Founded around 2009, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel grew into one of Mexico's most dominant criminal organizations under El Mencho, building trafficking networks for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States and across Latin America.
Analysts warn that what happens next in Mexico depends heavily on whether a succession plan exists within CJNG. The cartel operates more as a federation than a strict hierarchy, which may limit internal power struggles — but experts caution that fractured regional factions could trigger a bloody battle for control in the months ahead.
Mexico and the 2026 World Cup Shadow
The timing of the crisis adds pressure to Mexico's upcoming role as a FIFA World Cup co-host. Guadalajara is scheduled to host four matches in June 2026, with roughly 3 million visitors expected. President Sheinbaum insisted Mexico remains calm and that all roadblocks have been cleared, but international governments including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, France, and New Zealand have all issued security alerts or shelter-in-place advisories, underscoring the fragile state of security as the country works to project stability on a global stage.
