Burning cars lit up highways near the beach resorts. Thick smoke drifted over hotels where Americans locked their doors. At the airport, travelers ran through terminals as flights stopped cold.
This occurred Sunday night in Jalisco after Mexican forces killed cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
The Mexican Army Special Forces struck a target in Tapalpa, a town about two hours southwest of Guadalajara. El Mencho, 59, was injured in the gun battle and died on the way to Mexico City for medical attention. The Defense Department has confirmed the operation. The White House said U.S. intelligence agencies were involved.
A tweet from X.
El Mencho led Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. The U.S. designated it a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025. A $15 million price was on his head for many years.
Within hours, retaliation rolled out. Suspected CJNG members set more than 250 roadblocks across at least a dozen states. They torched vehicles, buses and some businesses. Armed convoys rolled through parts of Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, where smoke rose over the bay.
A roughly 4-minute, 38-second video posted to X by @raphousetv2 on February 23 captured the raw scenes: flames on barricades, black plumes from fires, groups of armed men, shaky clips of people taking cover and overlaid screenshots of messages. Those messages warned of escalation including possible moves against private homes, condos and tourist hotels if demands went unmet by a short deadline like 5 p.m.
Mexican authorities and outlets including CNN, NBC News and Reuters confirmed El Mencho’s death, the blockades, arson and clashes. The U.S. State Department put out clear alerts.
“Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice,”
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico stated. The advisory covered Jalisco including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara plus parts of Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus posted on X that the operation sparked “clashes” and that individuals
“have burned and blocked vehicles with the aim of hindering the actions of the authorities.”
Social media lit up with claims of cartel ultimatums to storm hotels or residences. Those specific organized invasion plans lack confirmation from Mexican or U.S. officials. No verified reports show direct attacks on tourist properties. Fast-moving crises like this often mix real violence with unconfirmed posts that spread quickly.
U.S. carriers including United, American and Air Canada canceled or diverted dozens of flights into Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Tourists described being stuck in resorts, watching smoke from rooftops. Resorts told guests to stay indoors. Schools closed in affected zones. Rideshares halted in some cities.
Shelter-in-place means stay where you are hotel room or rental avoid roads and wait for updates from official channels.
More than 10 million Americans travel to Mexico each year. Puerto Vallarta draws hundreds of thousands of them. CJNG controls major fentanyl routes into the United States. The group also faces U.S. Treasury sanctions for timeshare fraud schemes that target American owners in the same resort areas.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm Monday. Officials said most blockades had been cleared and some arrests made. One anonymous CJNG-linked source told Reuters the actions started
“in revenge for the leader’s death.”
The situation stayed fluid into Monday with fears of more instability during any leadership shift inside the cartel. Travelers should check travel.state.gov and follow embassy alerts closely.
