Mexico is on high alert after cartel gunmen launched a violent wave of revenge attacks in response to the killing of their leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho'. The notorious boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was fatally wounded during a federal raid in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday, according to officials.
Since the raid, retaliatory attacks have killed 25 National Guard members and one security guard, said Mexico's security minister, Omar García Harfuch. He added that 30 cartel operatives and one bystander were also killed. The defence minister, Ricardo Trevilla, revealed that intelligence leading to the operation came from a romantic partner of El Mencho.
In the west of the country, schools closed and travellers were left stranded as cartel members blocked roads by torching cars and buses. More than 250 roadblocks were set up across 20 states, though authorities said all had been cleared. In Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, residents were advised to stay indoors, and videos on social media showed cars and buildings ablaze.
In Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and a 2026 World Cup host, streets were nearly empty as fearful residents stayed home. Over 1,000 people were stuck overnight at the city's zoo for safety. Rumours of airport closures spread, but the government confirmed that airports in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tepic were operating normally, though some flights were diverted.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, while the foreign ministry issued a statement reassuring that the rule of law prevails. The US provided intelligence support for the raid, and the White House confirmed this. Analysts warn that El Mencho's death could spark a power struggle within the CJNG and provoke turf wars with rival cartels.
