After the drug lord was killed, scenes similar to civil war broke out in the city of Puerto Vallarta.Image: keystone
In view of the wave of violence in Mexico following the killing of a powerful drug lord by the military, President Claudia Sheinbaum is calling on the population to calm down.
02/23/2026, 04:0102/23/2026, 04:01
“We have to stay informed and stay calm,” she wrote on Platform X. The security forces were on heightened alert. Gang members set fire to cars, banks, gas stations and stores in several states. Several embassies called on their citizens to seek safety.
Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” died of his injuries on Sunday after a military operation to arrest him in the western state of Jalisco. The 59-year-old was the leader of the extremely violent drug cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG; in German “Jalisco New Generation”).
The US embassy and diplomatic missions in other countries called on their citizens in Mexico to be more vigilant. Among other things, there were warnings about acts of violence in the popular Caribbean holiday destinations of Cancún, Cozumel and Tulum.
The German embassy warned on Platform Anyone who is in a safe place such as a hotel should stay there until further notice and avoid non-essential trips. “Do not try to resist or flee during roadblocks,” the embassy continued. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has not yet updated its travel advice for Mexico, but is warning of very high levels of crime and violence in some regions of the country.
The venue for this year’s World Cup was also affected
For safety reasons, airlines canceled or rerouted flights, including routes to Puerto Vallarta, a tourist city on the Pacific coast that was also hit by the wave of violence. Incidents also occurred in the city of Guadalajara, which is one of three Mexican host cities for the 2026 World Cup. Mexico will host the tournament starting in June together with the USA and Canada.
According to the Ministry of Defense, seven gang members were killed in the military operation against “El Mencho”, including the drug lord. He died from his injuries while being flown to Mexico City. Three soldiers were therefore injured.
As a result, roads in states such as Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato were blocked by burning vehicles. National Guard bases were also attacked, local media reported. There are said to have been deaths and injuries.
A state is canceling school as a precautionary measure
In the state of Michoacán, the birthplace of “El Mencho”, classes in schools and other educational institutions will be canceled today, as Governor Alfredo Ramírez announced.
Even after the arrest of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, in 2016, similar incidents of violence did not occur in Mexico. “El Chapo” is currently serving a life sentence in the USA.
The US government has classified the “El Mencho” drug cartel as a foreign terrorist organization and offered a reward of 15 million US dollars (around 11.76 million Swiss francs) for its capture. The ex-policeman has led the CJNG, which he founded, since 2011. The organization is considered the most widespread cartel in Mexico.
According to the Mexican Ministry of Defense, the US authorities contributed information to the operation against “El Mencho” on Sunday as part of bilateral cooperation. (sda/dpa/con)