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Mexico unrest: 'War zone' scenes as cartels react to kingpin’s death

Mexico cartels El Mencho Drug Kingpin Tapalpa Jalisco tags :
Mexico unrest: 'War zone' scenes as cartels react to kingpin’s death
El Mencho died in custody while being transported to a hospital following injuries sustained in a Mexican Special Forces operation in the Pacific coast town of Tapalpa, Jalisco.

Scenes of chaos and unprecedented violence have erupted across 20 of Mexico's 32 states following the official announcement of the death of Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," one of Mexico's most notorious drug lords, after a military operation. Members of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which "El Mencho" headed, engaged in reprisals and extensive violence, torching buses, erecting roadblocks, burning businesses, and launching attacks against security forces, while panic broke out at the airports of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara due to the incidents. However, Mexico's security council announced late Sunday night, February 22, that order had been restored to at least 90% of the 250 roadblocks that had been set up across various parts of the country.

The death

Oseguera, 60, was the "mastermind" of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). El Mencho succumbed while in custody and during transport to a hospital, following injuries in a military operation by Mexican Special Forces in the town of Tapalpa, on the Pacific coast in the State of Jalisco, which serves as the power base for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His body arrived in Mexico City on Sunday afternoon in a heavily guarded convoy of National Guard soldiers.1_866.jpg

Guadalajara paralyzed

The military operation triggered a series of violent incidents across the state of Jalisco. Guadalajara, the state capital and Mexico’s second-largest city, was nearly paralyzed yesterday, Sunday, as reported by the Associated Press. 2_356.png

Videos obtained by CNN showed multiple fires burning and clouds of smoke rising across Puerto Vallarta, a resort popular with American tourists on Mexico's west coast. Pablo Lemus Navarro, the Governor of Jalisco, had stated earlier that the violence had spread to at least five states. The US has urged Americans in several Mexican states, including popular tourist areas in Jalisco, Baja California, and Quintana Roo, to remain safe in their accommodations.
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Pressure and congratulations from the US

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was under increasing pressure from Washington to intensify her offensive against drug cartels, which are accused of producing and trafficking drugs, particularly the synthetic opioid fentanyl, across the border into the US.



Reports indicate that a new task force led by the US Armed Forces played a role in the raid led and executed by Mexican forces. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later stated on social media that the United States provided intelligence support. Leavitt added that the Trump administration "commends and thanks the Mexican military forces for their cooperation and the successful execution of this operation."



Notably, almost immediately after news of El Mencho's death broke, the US Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, praised the Mexican authorities for their "professionalism and determination" in the operation. Johnson stated that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, led by El Mencho, was a "narco-terrorist organization responsible for trafficking fentanyl and fueling violence in US and Mexican communities." "I express my respect and solidarity toward the Mexican officials and service members who confront these criminal elements daily, often at great personal risk. The US stands firmly with Mexico in this shared responsibility and effort," the US Ambassador noted.5_515.jpg

War zones

Following the reports of El Mencho's death, cartel members blocked highways, burned cars, and torched shops in 20 of the 32 States, paralyzing parts of the country. No civilian deaths were reported. In the popular Jalisco resort of Puerto Vallarta, terrified tourists described a "war zone" on social media as columns of black smoke rose into the sky around the bay. Airlines including Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico, and American Airlines suspended flights to the region.

From former police officer to cartel kingpin

Oseguera, a former police officer, founded and oversaw the rapid rise of the CJNG, named after the western state of Jalisco, which is home to one of Mexico's largest cities, Guadalajara. In recent years, the CJNG has evolved into one of Mexico's most powerful cartels, known for its violent tactics, including forced labor and forced recruitment. Under the leadership of El Mencho, the CJNG also evolved into a highly diversified criminal enterprise, expanding from drug trafficking into fuel theft, extortion, human smuggling, and complex financial fraud. The cartel pioneered the use of drones in attacks against civilians in remote areas of western Mexico as part of its rapid territorial expansion.

Massive operation

Sunday's operation was one of Mexico's most high-profile strikes against drug gangs responsible for trafficking billions of dollars of drugs—including fentanyl—into the US. In recent years, leaders of the rival Sinaloa Cartel—Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada—had been captured alive. Both are now in US prisons. The administration of President Donald Trump praised the killing of El Mencho, but the resulting domestic violence highlighted the political balance Sheinbaum must achieve as her government escalates its offensive against the cartels.6_376.jpg

Partial restoration of order

On Sunday, Sheinbaum emphasized that activities in most parts of the country were continuing normally. Schools in several states across Mexico preemptively canceled classes for Monday, according to announcements from state-level ministries of education.7_297.jpg

The day after

Security experts are monitoring whether the raid and the death of the cartel leader will fracture the CJNG leadership and trigger bloody internal conflicts. "There will certainly be clashes between different factions, and these outbreaks of violence could last for years," said Carlos Olivo, a former deputy special agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and an expert on the CJNG. It is recalled that last January, US President Donald Trump had claimed that "the cartels rule Mexico" and warned that "we will now begin hitting the cartels on the ground." Sheinbaum said she would strengthen efforts to cooperate with the US in the fight against the cartels but vowed to defend Mexico's sovereignty and warned against any unilateral US military action in Mexico. In a social media post on Sunday, Sheinbaum said that security officials would provide further information on the operation.

Travel advisories – Stay in safe shelters

The US urged Americans in several regions of Mexico "to remain in safe shelters until further notice" due to the escalation of violence. "Due to ongoing security operations, roadblocks, and criminal activity, US citizens in the reported areas should remain in safe shelters until further notice," the US Embassy in Mexico underlines. The warning concerns several areas of the country, including popular tourist destinations such as Cancun, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, and Baja California. US airlines United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, as well as Canadian carriers Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing Airlines, announced the cancellation of flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo. Some aircraft that had departed for Mexico were forced to turn back, several airlines reported. Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Mexico also issued security advisories for its citizens, calling on them to be cautious and remain at home due to the surge in violence.

www.bankingnews.gr

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