whats going on in mexico: What’s happening in Mexico? Most powerful drug cartel leader killed by Mexican Army, flights cancelled, schools closed, curfew-like situation
Cars burned by cartel members blocked roads and sent smoke into the air in nearly a dozen Mexican states. Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara, turned into a ghost town Sunday night as civilians hid. Schools were closed in many states on Monday.
In the statement made by the Ministry of Defense, it was stated that Oseguera Cervantes was injured during the operation carried out to capture him in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about two hours southwest of Guadalajara, on Sunday and died while being taken to Mexico City. The state is a base for the cartel known for smuggling large amounts of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.
The Cartel Is a Major Fentanyl Trafficker
During the operation, soldiers came under fire, killing four people on the scene. The statement stated that three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were injured and later died. Two more people were arrested and armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other weapons were seized. Three members of the armed forces were injured and were treated.
A Jalisco state official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said a National Guard member died in Tapalpa during the operation, six more National Guard members died in Zapopan as well as Guadalajara, a prison guard in Puerto Vallarta was killed when inmates rioted, and an agent from the Jalisco state attorney’s office was killed in Guadalajara. Details were not immediately available.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said in X that the operation was carried out by Mexican special forces “within the framework of bilateral cooperation and with the provision of complementary intelligence by U.S. officials.” “Since President (Claudia) Sheinbaum came to power, the military has become much more confrontational and combative against criminal groups in Mexico,” said David Mora, an analyst at the International Crisis Group in Mexico. “This signals to the United States that Mexico can do this if we continue to cooperate and share intelligence, that we do not need U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”
Barricades and burning vehicles
The drug lord’s killing prompted hours of barricades with burning vehicles, tactics commonly used by cartels to thwart military operations. Videos circulating on social media show smoke rising over Jalisco’s tourist city of Puerto Vallarta and people running in panic at the airport in the state’s capital.
Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “due to the ongoing security situation” and advised customers not to travel to the airport.
Burning vehicles blocked the roads in the state capital, Guadalajara. Mexico’s second largest city is scheduled to host matches in the football World Cup this summer.
The US State Department warned US citizens in the states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon to stay in safe places due to ongoing security operations. Canada’s embassy in Mexico has warned its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to generally keep a low profile in Jalisco.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus told residents to stay home and suspended public transportation.
The US offered up to $15 million for his capture.
The US State Department offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho’s arrest. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of Mexico’s most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organizations and was born in 2009.
In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
Sheinbaum, like his predecessor, criticized previous administrations’ “staffer” strategy of removing cartel leaders only to trigger outbreaks of violence as the cartels splintered. While he remains popular in Mexico, security is a persistent concern and he has been under huge pressure to show results against drug trafficking since US President Donald Trump took office a year ago.
On Sunday, Sheinbaum applauded Mexican security forces and appealed for calm in a post on X.
