Drug lord El Mencho is dead. Now his cartel is burning cities in revenge. American tourists are trapped in their hotels as violence explodes across Mexico.
Drug Lord El Mencho Killed in Raid—Cartel Gunmen Torch Cities, Tourists Told to Hide. (Image: File)
Mexico's most wanted drug lord is dead. And now his cartel is burning the country in revenge. Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the 60-year-old boss known as "El Mencho," was killed during a special forces raid in the Pacific town of Tapalpa on Sunday. He led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most powerful criminal groups on earth. His death should have been a victory. Instead, it triggered chaos.
Gunmen torched vehicles. They blocked highways. They set businesses on fire across at least six states. And American tourists in places like Puerto Vallarta were told to hide in their rooms and wait.
Mexican special forces tracked him down in Tapalpa, a small town in Jalisco state. There was a raid. He was wounded. As they airlifted him to Mexico City for treatment, he died. His body arrived in the capital Sunday afternoon under heavy guard. National Guard troops escorted it. The whole operation was meant to be a message: the government can get anyone, anywhere.
The Mexican Defense Ministry confirmed the details. They said he died during the evacuation. They did not say exactly how he was wounded.
This is where it gets complicated. Mexico's embassy in Washington initially rejected suggestions of American involvement. They called such claims "false." They said Mexican special forces planned and executed the raid alone.
But then the White House spoke. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the United States provided intelligence support. She praised the Mexican military for their cooperation. She said President Trump has been clear: "Narcoterrorists" sending drugs to America will face justice.
President Trump himself posted on Truth Social over the weekend. A cryptic message: "We're Winning too much, it's just not fair! President DJT." That post fueled speculation. Did American intelligence help find El Mencho? Almost certainly yes. Did American officials pull the trigger? No. But the line between support and involvement is getting blurry.
The cartel responded exactly how everyone feared they would. Within hours, gunmen spread across six states. They set cars on fire. They blocked major highways. They burned businesses. They wanted to show they were still in control. That one man's death changes nothing.
In Puerto Vallarta, tourists watched smoke rise over the ocean. Flights were suspended. United Airlines, American Airlines, Aeromexico, Air Canada—all stopped flying to the area. Leslie Devaney, a San Diego attorney on vacation, described what she saw. Men dressed in black. Masks. Cars set on fire. Gunfire. Blasts. She and others hurried back to their rooms. Staff told them to shelter in place.
She posted on Facebook: "Interesting last full day in Puerto Vallarta today before heading home tomorrow." Then the violence started.
So far, no. Authorities say no civilian fatalities have been confirmed. Devaney told NBC it appeared the cartel was making a point, not targeting tourists. Streets were abandoned. The violence was aimed at infrastructure, not people.
But that does not mean Americans are safe.
The US Consulate issued warnings for towns along the border. Tecate. Ensenada. Tijuana. They cited roadblocks and criminal activity. Consulate staff were told to shelter in place. American citizens were urged to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for updates.
That is the question nobody wants to answer. The operation was a major blow against a cartel that floods the United States with fentanyl. Billions of dollars worth of drugs. Countless American lives lost. Taking out El Mencho saves lives in the long run.
But in the short run? Chaos. Every cartel boss knows what happened to El Chapo. Captured. Extradited. Now serving life in a supermax prison. They also know what happened to his sons. Pressure. Arrests. More pressure.
El Mencho's death sends a message: no one is untouchable. But it also triggers violence. Cartels do not just fold when their leader dies. They fight. They burn. They kill. And sometimes, innocent people get caught in the middle.
Tourists in Puerto Vallarta did not sign up for this. They came for the beach. For the sun. For margaritas by the pool. Instead, they got armed men in masks and gunfire in the streets.
A: Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, 60, was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
A: He was wounded during a special forces raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died while being airlifted to Mexico City for treatment.
A: Yes. The White House confirmed the US provided intelligence support. Mexican special forces carried out the actual raid.
A: Cartel gunmen are retaliating. They have burned vehicles, blocked highways, and set businesses on fire across at least six states to show they remain powerful.
A: So far, no tourists have been hurt. But flights have been suspended, and the US Consulate has issued shelter-in-place warnings for several areas.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
