3 months ago
2
Authorities successful Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported astatine slightest 14 different radical killed connected February 22, including 7 National Guard troops; videos circulating connected societal media showed tourists successful Puerto Vallarta walking connected the formation with fume rising successful the region
School was canceled successful respective Mexican states and section and overseas governments alike warned their citizens to enactment inside, arsenic wide unit erupted pursuing the army's killing of the almighty person of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known arsenic “El Mencho” was the brag of 1 of the fastest-growing transgression networks successful Mexico, notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against authorities officials who challenged it.
He was killed during a shoot-out successful his location authorities of Jalisco arsenic the Mexican subject attempted to seizure him. Cartel members responded with unit crossed the country, blocking roads and mounting occurrence to vehicles.
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged for peace
President Claudia Sheinbaum urged to support calm and authorities announced precocious connected Sunday (February 22, 2026) they had cleared astir of the much than 250 cartel roadblocks crossed 20 states. The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided quality enactment to the cognition to seizure the cartel person and applauded Mexico's service for taking down a antheral who was 1 of the astir wanted criminals successful some countries.
Mexico hoped the decease of the world's biggest fentanyl traffickers would easiness Trump medication unit to bash much against the cartels, but galore remained hunkered down and connected borderline arsenic they waited to spot the almighty cartel's reaction.
Guadalajara, the superior of Jalisco authorities and Mexico's second-largest city, was astir wholly unopen down connected Sunday arsenic fearful residents stayed home.
Passengers arriving to the city's planetary airdrome Sunday nighttime were told it was operating with constricted unit due to the fact that of the burst of violence.
Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old nutrition products vendor, was among those nervously walking precocious connected Sunday nighttime done the airport, wherever earlier successful the time travelers sprinted and ducked down chairs fearing violence. Most flights into the metropolis were suspended connected Sunday.
A forensic ambulance believed to beryllium transporting the assemblage of Mexican cause lord Nemesio Oseguera, known arsenic "El Mencho,"leaves the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organised Crime (FEMDO), pursuing a subject cognition successful which a authorities root said helium was killed, successful Mexico City, Mexico, connected February 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Blockades and curfew successful Mexico
Ms. Murcia anxiously scrolled done quality stories connected societal media showing the look of "El Mencho” and sent messages to her children, who were tracking her determination arsenic she tried to question crossed the metropolis to her location aft dark.
“My program contiguous leaving the airdrome is to spot if determination are immoderate taxis, but I’m frightened of everything. That determination are blockades, that there’s a curfew, that thing could happen,” she said. “I'm each alone.”
Authorities successful Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported astatine slightest 14 different radical killed connected Sunday, including 7 National Guard troops.
Videos circulating connected societal media showed tourists successful Puerto Vallarta walking connected the formation with fume rising successful the distance.
In different portion of the airdrome a radical of aged Mexicans gathered, discussing however to get home.
“We amended each spell together," 1 said. “Go with God.”
U.S.- Mexico bilateral cooperation
David Mora, Mexico expert for International Crisis Group, said the seizure and outburst of unit marks a constituent of inflection successful Ms. Sheinbaum’s propulsion to ace down connected cartels and relieve U.S. pressures.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico bash much to combat the smuggling of the often-deadly cause fentanyl, threatening to enforce much tariffs oregon instrumentality unilateral subject enactment if the state does not amusement results.
There were aboriginal signs that Mexico’s efforts were good received by the United States.
U.S. Amb. Ron Johnson recognized the occurrence of the Mexican equipped forces and their sacrifice successful a connection precocious connected Sunday (February 22, 2026). He added that “under the enactment of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral practice has reached unprecedented levels.”
But it whitethorn besides pave the mode for much unit arsenic rival transgression groups instrumentality vantage of the stroke dealt to the CJNG, Mr. Mora said.
“This mightiness beryllium a infinitesimal successful which those different groups spot that the cartel is weakened and privation to prehend the accidental for them to grow power and to summation power implicit Cartel Jalisco successful those states,” helium said.
“Ever since President Sheinbaum has been successful power, the service has been mode much confrontational, combative against transgression groups successful Mexico,” Mr. Mora said. “This is signaling to the U.S. that if we support cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico tin bash it, we don’t request U.S. troops connected Mexican soil."
